Correspondence

Crime and policing news update: July 2015

Published 31 July 2015

First Anniversary of the Girl Summit

The government marked the first anniversary of the Girl Summit on 22 July. All of the commitments made at the inaugural summit have now been delivered, and ministers signed a declaration outlining the progress made to date, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to tackling FGM. However, there is still more work to do, as a Home Office and Trust for London funded report into the prevalence of FGM in England and Wales makes clear. It concludes that every local area will be affected by FGM in some way. The Home Office is working with the Department for Communities and Local Government and Department of Health to ensure the data is used to inform local responses.

The Home Office has also launched a public consultation on proposed FGM statutory guidance for frontline professionals. The draft guidance is part of a range of measures included in the Serious Crime Act 2015 to ensure greater protection for girls at risk and that more perpetrators are brought to justice. The Home Office is seeking views on the content and detail of the new statutory guidance to ensure that frontline professionals have complete clarity on their duties and responsibilities; are aware of good practice in supporting survivors and women and girls at risk, and are more accountable for their actions. The consultation is open until Wednesday 30 September. For more information please contact: FGMconsultation@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Modern Slavery Act comes into force

The landmark Modern Slavery Act 2015 received Royal Assent on 26 March, and gives the police and law enforcement the tools to tackle modern slavery and enhances support and protection for victims.

A number of provisions come into force on 31 July, including:

• the consolidation of slavery and human trafficking offences into one Act with a maximum life sentence;
• Slavery and Trafficking Prevention and Risk Orders which provide a new tool to prevent those who pose a risk from committing modern slavery offences;
• access to civil legal aid for slavery victims; and
• placing the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner on a statutory footing.

A circular has been published which sets out full details of the provisions which come into force on 31 July.

New prison sentences for offenders who repeatedly carry knives

New minimum prison sentences for offenders who repeatedly carry knives came into effect on 17 July. Adults convicted more than once of being in possession of a blade face a minimum 6 month prison sentence and a maximum of 4 years, whilst young offenders aged 16 and 17, will face a minimum 4 month detention and training order. The new sentences have been introduced as an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.

Consultation on the police funding formula

The Home Office has launched a consultation on reform of the current arrangements for allocating central government funding to the 43 police force areas in England and Wales.

Currently, police funding is determined using the Police Allocation Formula (PAF). The Home Office believes that the PAF should be replaced by a simplified model as soon as it is appropriate to do so. The proposed new model would use population levels, the underlying characteristics of that population and environmental characteristics to determine how money is allocated. The intention is to create a fairer and more transparent method of allocating financial resources.

The Home Office has launched a consultation seeking views on the principles underpinning the proposed funding model, including what transitional arrangements would be needed if the new formula was implemented for the 2016/17 financial year, subject to securing broad support. The consultation closes on 15 September 2015.

Police Knowledge Fund

The 14 successful bids for the Police Knowledge Fund were announced on 30 July. The fund was announced by the Home Secretary at the inaugural International Crime and Policing Conference in January, and will be administered by the College of Policing.

The fund aims to incentivise collaborations between police forces and academic institutions to help establish a recognised body of knowledge, evidence and expertise on policing and cutting crime. It will help embed evidence-based problem solving approaches within forces and build sustained capability amongst officers and staff to understand and use research. Developing effective relationships between forces and universities is a key part in growing the knowledge base for policing and an important step in developing policing as a profession.

For more information on the Police Knowledge Fund please visit the College of Policing’s website.

Police Innovation Fund 2016 to 2017

The Police Innovation Fund was established to incentivise collaboration and enable police and crime commissioners to invest in new technology to improve policing and deliver efficiency. Since its launch 3 years ago, the Home Office has awarded £140 million to support projects that are supporting innovation in policing.

The Home Office will shortly be providing more information on the Police Innovation Fund 2016 to 2017.

Early Intervention Foundation launches academy for police leaders

The Early Intervention Foundation (EIF), working with the Home Office and the College of Policing, has launched an Early Intervention Academy for Police Leaders. The Academy will bring a small cadre of police leaders together to share their ideas, and develop practical plans that can be implemented in their force and with their partners.

EIF is currently inviting nominations at the rank of Chief Inspector, Superintendent or police staff equivalent from across the country to join the Academy. You can find more details on the nomination process and nomination form on EIF’s website or by contacting Stephanie Waddell. Nominations for police leaders are open until Thursday 20 August.

Home Secretary announces water cannon decision

On 15 July, the Home Secretary announced that she would not authorise the use of water cannon as a policing tactic for operational use in England and Wales. A full independent review of the medical implications of water cannon and a further review of the latest police guidance, training and maintenance documents were completed before the Home Secretary made her decision.

The rationale for the Home Secretary’s decision were:

• the medical and technical assessment poses a series of direct and indirect medical risks from the use of water cannon. The machines under consideration have also required serious alterations and repairs to meet the necessary standards;
• water cannon have limitations, especially in response to fast, agile disorder. Chief Constables also raised the possibility that they could attract crowds to a vulnerable location; and
• the deployment of water cannon in areas with a history of mistrust of the police has the potential to be entirely counterproductive and could negatively impact on public perceptions of police legitimacy.

Terms of reference for undercover policing inquiry announced

On 16 July, the Home Secretary announced the terms of reference to the undercover policing inquiry. The Inquiry, which is chaired by Lord Justice Pitchford, was set up in March to investigate undercover policing units – including the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) and National Public Order Intelligence Unit – operating in England and Wales since 1968, including the extent to which they targeted individuals and groups such as political and social justice campaigns.

The purpose of the Inquiry is to:

• investigate the role of, and the contribution made by undercover policing towards the prevention and detection of crime;
• examine the motivation for, and the scope of, undercover police operations in practice and their effect upon individuals in particular and the public in general;
• ascertain the state of awareness of undercover police operations in HM Government;
• identify and assess the adequacy of the justification, authorisation, operational governance and oversight of undercover policing;
• selection, training, management and care of undercover police officers; and
• identify and assess the adequacy of the statutory, policy and judicial regulation of undercover policing.

The Inquiry is expected to run for up to three years.

Review on the impact of undisclosed undercover police activity on the safety of convictions published

On 16 July, Mark Ellison’s review, “Possible miscarriages of justice: impact of undisclosed undercover police activity on the safety of convictions” was published. The Review assessed the possible impact upon the safety of convictions in England and Wales where relevant undercover police activity was not properly revealed to the prosecutor and considered at the time of trial.

In response to Mr Ellison’s review, the Home Secretary has included – as part of the Terms of Reference for the undercover policing inquiry – a review of the scope for miscarriage of justice in the absence of proper disclosure of an undercover police operation during criminal prosecutions.

She will establish a panel, consisting of senior members of the CPS and the police, which will review cases where the inquiry believes miscarriages of justice may have taken place as the result of an undercover police operation or its non disclosure.

Public bodies now required to take steps to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism

On 1 July, the new Prevent duty came into effect. It places a legal requirement on public bodies including schools, local authorities, prisons, police and health bodies to take measures to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. The Prevent duty was introduced as part of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015.

The government has worked with the sectors affected to ensure they are aware of their new responsibilities, are able to recognise the signs that someone may be being drawn into terrorism and know how to access help and support.

New Troubled Families programme launched

In April the national roll out of the new Troubled Families programme was launched. The programme gives funds to local authorities and their partners to help turn around the lives of troubled families, and aims to reach 400,000 families over the next 5 years.

Whilst local authorities will identify eligible families for the programme, partners such as the police, offender management and youth services, and the voluntary sector can now nominate families where there is a potential crime problem. This could include those involved in or at risk of involvement with gangs, serious and organised crime or radicalisation, even if there is no proven offence.

For further information on the programme and to find out who your local Troubled Families Coordinator is, e-mail: families.team@communities.gov.uk.

Mind’s Blue Light Pledge for organisations

Mind’s Blue Light programme provides mental health support for staff and volunteers in police forces and other emergency services across England. Mind has recently launched the Blue Light Time to Change pledge for organisations to show how they’re working to tackle the stigma around mental health and help keep their staff well for work.

You can find out more about the pledge and how to sign up on Mind’s website.

Chancellor launches 2015 Spending Review

The 2015 Spending Review was announced by the Chancellor George Osborne on 21 July, with departments asked to model both a 25% real reduction and a 40% real reduction in their budgets by 2019-20, and must submit their plans by 4 September. The Treasury also welcomes suggestions for policies or reforms for inclusion as part of the 2015 Spending Review from stakeholders. You can submit a representation to the Treasury by 4 September with your proposals. The Spending Review will be published on 25 November.

Speeches

The Prime Minister’s statement on working more closely with the Vietnamese government to combat human trafficking

The Home Secretary’s announcement on the review of deaths in policy custody

Justine Greening’s speech at Canada House, marking one year on since Girl Summit 2014

Theresa May’s oral statement to Parliament on her decision on the use of water cannon by police in England and Wales

The Prime Minister’s speech setting out his plans to address extremism