Correspondence

Crime and policing news update: June 2015

Published 26 June 2015

The Serious Crime Act is now in force

The Serious Crime Act 2015 received Royal Assent on 3 March with many of its provisions coming into force on 3 May. On 1 June, the remaining provisions also came into effect, including the new offence of participating in the activities of an organised crime group, as well as improvements to the Proceeds of Crime Act and new powers of seizure and forfeiture of drug cutting agents. In addition, it includes provisions to disrupt criminality conducted from within prison using mobile phones and to guard against the threat of terrorism.

New measures to tackle Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

A number of changes to the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Act 2003 were included in the Serious Crime Act to strengthen the law on FGM and better protect victims and potential victims. On 3 May, the following measures came into force:

  • extending the reach of the extra-territorial offences in the 2003 Act to habitual (as well as permanent) UK residents
  • providing lifelong anonymity for victims of FGM
  • creating a new offence of failing to protect a girl from risk of FGM

A new civil order, known as the FGM Protection Order, has been created to protect victims or potential victims of FGM. An order could include, for example, a requirement for a passport to be surrendered to prevent a girl being taken abroad for FGM. The new orders will come into force ahead of the summer holiday period, when girls may be particularly at risk.

For more information, please contact the Home Office’s FGM Unit:

FGMEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk

New legislation strengthens Gang Injunctions

As part of the Serious Crime Act, new legislative changes came into force on 1 June which widen the scope of gang injunctions to include gang-related drug dealing. It had previously just covered gang-related violence.

These changes also amend the statutory definition of a gang to make it less prescriptive and more flexible, as previously the definition referred to gang colours and geographic areas. It has been simplified so that a gang is now defined as having one or more characteristics that enable its members to be identified as a group, by others. There is also a guide for practitioners which provides practical information on how to apply for a gang injunction.

Plans to amend police powers under the Mental Health Act

The forthcoming Policing Bill, which was announced in the Queen’s speech, includes measures to improve the response to people experiencing a mental health crisis. The Bill will include changes to sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act that will:

  • cut the use of police cells as places of safety, so that when the police need to detain someone under these powers, the person concerned will get the medical care they need in a proper health setting
  • reduce the maximum period of detention under sections 135 and 136 from the current maximum of 72 hours
  • enable more suitable places to be designated as places of safety (and other measures to help police officers and health professionals to use these powers more effectively)

The proposed legislation follows on from the joint Home Office and Department of Health Review of Sections 135 and 136, which made a number of recommendations published in December 2014. Those recommendations were then subject to a recently completed public consultation led by the Department of Health.

NCA Strategic Threat Assessment

On 23 June, the National Crime Agency published the second National Strategic Assessment (NSA). The NSA provides an overview of the serious and organised crime threats affecting the UK, enabling the NCA, police and other law enforcement agencies to prioritise, coordinate and target the response.

The NSA is presented in two sections. The first analyses key threats including child sexual exploitation and abuse, firearms, organised immigration crime, human trafficking and modern slavery, cyber crime, money laundering, drugs, economic crime and organised acquisitive crime. The second section assesses the cross-cutting threats which underpin most serious and organised crime, including corruption, criminal use of internet technology, prisons and lifetime management, border vulnerabilities, and the criminal use of identity as an enabler.

HMIC launches survey to find out how police are working with partners

Each year HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) assesses how each police force in England and Wales is performing. A core part of this year’s inspection looks at understanding how effective partners feel the police are at working with them to prevent crime, anti-social behaviour and keep people safe.

HMIC is keen to hear the views of organisations who work with the police, and has launched a short online survey. The responses will inform HMIC’s inspection fieldwork. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and closes on 27 July.

Review of police targets

In her Police Federation Conference speech, the Home Secretary announced that Chief Superintendent Irene Curtis, President of the Police Superintendents’ Association would lead a review of targets within policing. The review will examine the use of numerical targets, how and why they are being used and asses their impact on police officers’ ability to fight crime. As part of the review, an online survey has been launched for police officers and staff in England and Wales to submit their views on targets. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and closes on 17 July.

National Crime Agency launches campaign to help parents talk to their children about ‘sexting’

A new campaign which aims to help parents and carers deal with their children sending self-generated nude or nearly nude images and videos – known as ‘sexting’ – has been launched by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

A series of short films has been published on the NCA’s website which give parents advice on talking to their children about ‘sexting’ and helping them keep safe from the risks associated with ‘sexting’. The films also explain how parents can get help if their child is at risk after sharing an image.

Additionally, a free guidance pack is available on the Thinkuknow website to support teachers, police officers and other practitioners working with families to deliver the films’ key messages to the parents that they work with.

City of London identity theft campaign

A campaign to make the public aware of identity theft and how they can avoid becoming a victim of this crime will launch on Monday 29 June. The ‘Not with my name’ campaign is being run by City of London police, and will give tips to help people protect their personal information, such as creating safe passwords, protecting internet devices, and safely storing and disposing of mail. For more information on the campaign, please contact Harry Watkinson at City of London Police.

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.

Nominations for the Compact Awards 2015 are now open

The Compact is a voluntary agreement that aims to foster strong, effective partnerships between public bodies and voluntary organisations. The Compact Awards were designed to showcase outstanding partnership working across England. Winners will be chosen from groups, individuals, organisations and activities that demonstrate the very best of cross-sector partnership working.

Nominations for the Compact Awards 2015 are now open. You can nominate yourself, another individual, a local Compact group or an organisation. Further information on the awards and how to submit a nomination are available on the Compact Voice website. The deadline for nominations is Monday 14 September 2015. The winners will be announced at a ceremony during Compact Week, which runs from 2 – 6 November.

Speeches

The Home Secretary’s speech at the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism conference

The Minister for Preventing Abuse and Exploitation’s keynote speech at the NSPCC’s How Safe Are Our Children conference

The Home Secretary’s statement to Parliament on the publication of the Anderson Report