Correspondence

Crime and policing news update: October 2013

Published 31 October 2013

1. Foreword

Quarterly crime statistics released earlier in the month shows once again that crime is falling with forces rising to the challenge of making savings while cutting crime and delivering a better service to the public. But there is no room for complacency – particularly in relation to sexual offences, shoplifting and, of course, the continuing underlying threat of cyber enabled crime. Nonetheless, these continue to be very encouraging figures and shows the impact of the work you all do.

In this edition you’ll be able to read about the work of the new National Crime Agency (NCA). The NCA plays a key role in cutting serious and organised crime, the framework of which is set out in the Government’s new serious and organised crime strategy that was also published this month – news of which is included in this update.

Another of our new national organisations, the College of Policing, launched an important consultation document this month, the draft Code of Ethics for Policing. It emphasises the importance of personal integrity, honesty and fairness in policing and I’d strongly encourage you to take part in the consultation process. Details are in this months update.

You should also be aware that following a cabinet reshuffle earlier in the month, Norman Baker joined the Home Office as Minister of State for Crime Prevention.

After nearly five years in this role, I am moving on next month to a fresh – and rather daunting – challenge, leading the work across the West Midlands to tackle child sexual exploitation and other serious harms to vulnerable people and communities, in partnership with local authorities, the police and many other agencies. My successor here as interim Director General will be Mary Calam. I would like to thank all of you for your continuing commitment and professionalism in reducing crime and protecting our communities over the last few years. This has been a hugely challenging time for all of us – especially with the unprecedented and relentless reductions in public spending – and the collective response has, in my view, been outstanding. I have always thought that – as money gets tighter – so effective partnerships become more central and fundamental to the delivery of public services, and so it is turning out to be. None of us have the time or money to spend doing pointless bureaucracy or working in silos, and let’s make sure in moving forward that we become even more joined up, with shared objectives and business processes that meet those objectives. That is what being professional is going to be all about. Thank you.

Stephen Rimmer, Director General Crime and Policing Group

2. New serious and organised crime strategy launched

On Monday 7 October, the Home Secretary announced wide-ranging plans to tackle the threat of serious and organised crime as the government’s new serious and organised crime strategy was published. The new strategy, alongside the formal establishment of the National Crime Agency (NCA) on the same day, signifies a step change in our approach to cutting serious and organised crime.

Police and law enforcement agencies estimate that there are over 5,500 organised crime groups operating in the UK involving around 37,000 individuals and costing the UK more than £24 billion each year.

The strategy uses the counter terrorism framework to set out action that will be taken at every opportunity to relentlessly disrupt serious and organised criminals. It focuses on preventing people from getting involved in organised crime, improving Britain’s protection against serious and organised criminality and ensuring that communities, victims and witnesses get the support they need when serious and organised crimes occur.

3. Inside the National Crime Agency - the UK’s new crime-fighting agency

The National Crime Agency (NCA) is a new crime-fighting agency with national and international reach and the mandate, partnerships and powers to bring the full weight of law enforcement to bear in cutting serious and organised crime both within the UK and internationally.

Formally established on 7 October 2013 the NCA brings together a number of precursor agencies, including the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), Border Policing and the Child Exploitation and On-line Protection Centre (CEOP).

The NCA responds on a 24/7 basis, targeting the criminals and groups posing the biggest risk to the UK and its borders and it does this three ways:

• by conducting its own operations;
• by providing operational and specialist support to its partners’ operations, and;
• by providing clear national leadership which ensures that UK law enforcement makes the best use of its collective resources and targets criminals and criminal groups most effectively.

The NCA is lead by Director General Keith Bristow, who is supported by Deputy Director Phil Gormley, and a team of Directors, each of whom head an NCA ‘Command’: Intelligence Command, Organised Crime Command, Economic Crime Command, Border Policing Command, CEOP Command and the National Cyber Crime Unit.

For more information about how the NCA works, its role and activities, visit our website. For quick updates and to keep in touch with the NCA, then join us at Facebook.com/NCA or follow us on Twitter@NCA_UK.

4. College of Policing launches consultation on draft Code of Ethics

The public, police officers and police staff are being asked for their views on the first Code of Ethics for policing in England and Wales.

The consultation on the draft code, launched by the College of Policing, runs until 29 November 2013. The final code is expected to be published next spring.

The Code of Ethics will set out the standards of behaviour expected of everyone in policing. It will apply to more than 220,000 police officers and staff across England and Wales. It emphasises the importance of personal integrity, honesty and fairness.

Chief Constable Alex Marshall, Chief Executive of the College of Policing, said: “The Code of Ethics is a first for policing in England and Wales. It is a national document reflecting the core principles and standards of behaviour that every member of the police service should strive to maintain.

In drafting this code, the College of Policing has worked with representatives of the Police Federation, the Superintendents’ Association, ACPO, UNISON and Police and Crime Commissioners.

We do not want this to be ‘just another document’ for officers and staff to read. It must be one that is used to help people make professional decisions - to do the right thing in the right way. It encourages officers and staff to report improper conduct and never ignore unprofessional behaviour by a colleague.”

The draft Code of Ethics can be accessed on the College of Policing website

5. Direct entry into policing: government response to consultation

Earlier this month, Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims Damian Green, announced that under new plans, people with the right levels of experience will be able to apply to join the police at either superintendent or chief constable rank. In addition, graduates will be able to apply for a fast-track scheme which would see them join as a constable, but become an inspector in just three years. The fast-track scheme will also be available to officers already serving at lower ranks.

It will now be for the College of Policing to design the new direct entry schemes, with the first of the new cohort expected to join next year.

Full details can be found in the government’s response to the direct entry consultation.

6. College of Policing APP at your fingertips

The College of Policing has launched online policing guidance to the public, making it available from smartphones and tablets for the first time.

Called Authorised Professional Practice (APP), the consolidated guidance significantly reduces the amount of national guidance in circulation. The guidance is available via www.app.college.police.uk.

College of Policing chief operating officer, Deputy Chief Constable Rob Beckley, said “APP streamlines existing knowledge products and guidance into a simpler online format giving officers and staff instant access to authorised practice and the ability to see how it links to other policing business areas.

The feedback from officers and staff was that there were too many manuals and getting quick and easy access to them was not always simple. APP has been designed for use on smartphones and tablets so the latest content is available at the touch of a button while on the frontline.”

7. Conference to support the digital work of police forces

The Digital Pathfinders Programme was launched in May 2013 to support forces achieve the digital capabilities set out in the National Policing Vision 2016. Its aim is to map the current usage of digital technology by those forces that signed up to the programme, share that knowledge, and then provide any required support.

On 11 November 2013 the College of Policing, with the Home Office, is hosting a conference for the 29 forces that have so far signed up to be Digital Pathfinders. The purpose of the conference is to give forces and police and crime commissioners:

• an opportunity to hear from the Damian Green, Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims;
• an overview of the roles of the College of Policing, the Home Office and the Information Management National Policing Business Area;
• an overview of the progress police forces across the country have already made in exploiting this technology;
• the opportunity to share the experiences of specific force projects, such as the creation of digital evidence and information sharing with partners, and so establish some useful networks;
• access to relevant suppliers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises;
• further information about the support which forces can access from the College of Policing regarding business improvement, culture change and evaluation, as well as technical expertise from the Home Office’s Police ICT Company Directorate; and
• the chance to shape the next steps of the Digital Pathfinders Programme.

If you would like more information about the conference, please contact the College of Policing at digital@college.pnn.police.uk

For more information about the Digital Pathfinders Programme more generally, please contact the Home Office at PCDenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk

8. Interactive innovation through collaboration event

On 10 December 2013 the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims will chair an interactive ‘innovation through collaboration’ event for police and crime commissioners and chief constables. The purpose is to encourage and inspire further collaboration and provide an opportunity to think about bidding for the Police Innovation Fund. The event will be held at the Home Office.

In ‘Policing in austerity: rising to the challenge’, HMIC found a deeply disappointing overall picture of collaboration, as well as an ambition amongst many PCCs to galvanise existing collaborations and develop new and innovative approaches. HMIC recommended that chief constables and PCCs should review their plans for collaboration and consider the scope to deliver better value for money and improved capability and capacity through joint working with other forces, the public and/or the private sector.

This event will bring together learning from the experience of existing collaborations about what works and how barriers have been overcome. There will be opportunities to discuss collaboration at other events during the autumn and those discussions will feed in to the December event. For further information contact Raza Hussain at Raza.Hussain@homeoffice.gov.uk or telephone 020 7035 6289.

9. Revised Codes under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE)

Following statutory consultation, PACE codes A (stop and search), B (search of premises and seizure of property), C (detention of suspects), E (audio recording of interviews), F (visual recording of interviews) and H (detention of terrorism suspects) have been revised. The revised codes were laid before Parliament on 21 October and came into operation on 27 October 2013.

Revisions to the codes achieve consistency with relevant domestic legislation and a European Union Directive, and compliance with a recent High Court ruling relating to 17-year-olds in detention. Notable revisions include ones to Codes C and H that:

• require the police to provide 17 year olds with access to an appropriate adult when detained;
• transpose into UK domestic law European Union Directive 2010/64/EU on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings.

The Home Office has published a single response to the two consultation exercises, and is grateful to all those who responded.

Home Office Circular 012/2013 summarises the revisions to the six Codes, and includes links to each of the revised versions and the consultation response.

The Home Office is currently analysing responses to the stop and search consultation which closed on 24th September 2013.

10. New Victims’ Code published

The new Victims’ Code, which was laid before Parliament on 29 October, aims to give victims a louder voice in the criminal justice process.

The new Victims’ Code, sets out what support and information victims of crime are entitled to from criminal justice agencies, from the moment they report a crime until after the trial.

For the first time, the revised code places a new duty on criminal justice agencies and Police and Crime Commissioners to include information about the Victims’ Code on their websites to raise awareness more broadly of victims’ entitlements.

The revised code provides enhanced support for three priority categories of victims and new entitlements include victims being able to choose to read their Victim Personal Statement or have it read out in court, allowing them to explain how the crime has affected them either physically, emotionally, financially or in any other way.

A stronger complaints mechanism has also been built into the code for victims who do not receive the support they are entitled to.

The revised code is part of the government’s vision to transform the criminal justice system by putting victims first and creating a more responsive system that is easier to navigate. The new Victims’ Code is expected to come into force in December 2013.

11. Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill

The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill completed its passage through the House of Commons on 15 October and had its Second Reading in the Lords on 29 October. The government tabled a number of amendments and new clauses at the commons report stage. The key new additions to the bill are outlined below.

11.1 Reform of civil preventative orders under the Sexual Offences Act 2003

Following a campaign by Nicola Blackwood MP, what is now Part 9 of the Bill will repeal three of the existing civil orders provided for in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (the Sexual Offences Protection Order, Foreign Travel Orders and Risk of Sexual Harm Orders) and replace them with two new orders, the Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sexual Risk Order. The measures in the bill will address gaps in the current system and ensure that the police and National Crime Agency have the powers they need to manage those who pose a risk of sexual harm.

11.2 Violent offender orders

The bill now also closes a gap in relation to violent offender orders (VOO) which can be used to impose restrictions on offenders convicted of specified offences who pose a risk of violent harm to the public. It will now be possible to obtain a VOO in cases where someone has been convicted of murder overseas.

11.3 New powers for police community support officers (PCSOs)

Clause 135 to the bill enables chief officers to confer on PCSOs the power to issues a fixed penalty notice to an individual for cycling without lights.

Letters detailing the various government amendments made to the bill at commons report stage and revised fact sheets providing further information about the provisions in the bill are available on GOV.UK

12. Get to know the Compact during Compact Week

Compact Week takes place across England every year, and aims to promote and celebrate the Compact: the longstanding agreement that sets out shared commitments and guidelines for partnership working between government and the voluntary sector.

This year’s Compact Week is running from 4 to 8 November, and there are numerous activities taking place to raise the profile of cross-sector partnership working. Local authorities, public bodies like clinical commissioning groups, police and crime commissioners, and local Fire and Rescue Services will be using the week to celebrate how they are working with the voluntary and community sector.

Compact Voice, the national charity who work to support the Compact, have a range of ideas and resources online for Compact Week 2013.

If you’d like to know more about the Compact, how it can help you to better engage with the voluntary sector and how to get involved in Compact Week, email compact@compactvoice.org.uk

13. This is Abuse

To raise awareness of abuse within young people’s relationships the Home Office has run two successful campaigns since 2010; the Teenage Relationship Abuse and Teenage Rape Prevention campaigns. The campaigns aim to prevent teenagers from becoming victims and perpetrators of abusive relationships and encourage teenagers to re-think their views of violence, abuse, controlling behaviour and what consent means within their relationships. The campaign directs them to the This is Abuse website where they can get further help and advice on these issues.

Since, 2010 there have been over 1 million visits to the This is Abuse website and comments left by teenagers on the discussion forums indicate that the campaign is contributing towards changing attitudes and behaviour.

“I’ve broken up with my boyfriend of nearly 6 months. After watching this video, the exact words of ‘you’re pathetic, are you gonna go cry to your friends’ echoed in my mind. He has said those exact words to me on many occasions. He put me down, stopped me from talking to my friends who were boys, checked my inbox, my texts, physically pushed me around. I don’t see why I didn’t see this before.”

The campaign is due to re-launch later this year. If you would like to receive a copy of the campaign brief with further information please email VAWGcampaigns@homeoffice.gov.uk

14. Youth Report

The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) have launched Youth Report, a new intelligence hub focused on young people. It will be the place to go for data and statistics on young people and youth services as well as those looking for information on current youth policy initiatives and youth research. It will provide a knowledge bank for effective youth support practice and impact. At the heart of Youth Report will be a website making existing intelligence more accessible. NCVYS are in the process of developing the project and will be launching their first product at Creative Collisions - a one day conference to harness the energy of the youth sector and create sparks, momentum and change (6 November in London).

15. Speeches

16 October - Policing Minister Damian Green’s speech at the College of Policing 24 October - Home Secretary’s speech at the College of Policing