Correspondence

Crime, policing and fire news update: February 2017

Published 1 March 2017

1. Next steps for fire reform

The Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, Brandon Lewis, delivered a major speech on 7 February to the fire sector setting out the government’s next steps for fire reform. This built on a speech by the Prime Minister, as then Home Secretary, last May which set out the government’s vision for the fire and rescue service in England to be more efficient, accountable and professional than ever before.

The Minister announced the creation of a new inspectorate with the first inspection taking place later this year; the formation of a new professional standards body; the launch of a new national fire website to be operational later this year which will provide a range of comparable data for the public; a full rewrite of the Fire National Framework which sets the government’s expectations and priorities for services and undertaking two basket of goods exercises to ensure services are transforming commercially. He also challenged fire and rescue services to take action to address what he considered to be the woeful lack of diversity in the sector.

2. Consultation on proposals to stop senior fire officers from being re-employed after they have retired

This government is reforming the fire service to make it more accountable, efficient and effective in performing its vital duties on behalf of the public. As part of these reforms, the government is proposing new guidelines to bring an end the practice of senior fire officers being re-employed in the same or similar roles after they have retired. The new rules will also bar an officer who returns to work in such an exceptional circumstance from drawing their pension alongside their salary.

On 21 February, the Home Office launched a 6 week consultation, seeking the views of fire and rescue authorities, trade unions and other interested parties on the best way to deliver the required reforms. This consultation comes ahead of a full review of the national framework later this year, which will reflect the wider fire reform agenda.

3. The Policing and Crime Bill receives Royal Assent

The government marked a major milestone in its police reform agenda on 31 January when the Policing and Crime Bill received Royal Assent. The Policing and Crime Act 2017 is a key bill which will enhance the democratic accountability of police forces and fire and rescue services, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency services through closer collaboration, and build public confidence in policing.

It will also strengthen the protections for persons under investigation by, or who come into contact with, the police; ensure that the police and other law enforcement agencies have the powers they need to prevent, detect and investigate crime; and further safeguard children and young people from sexual exploitation.

The Act includes provisions which will:

• reform pre-charge bail to put a stop to people remaining on bail for lengthy periods with no independent judicial scrutiny of its continued necessity
• better enable chief officers to make the most efficient and effective use of their workforce by giving them the flexibility to confer a wider range of powers on police staff and volunteers (whilst for the first time specifying a core list of powers that may only be exercised by warranted police officers) and conferring a power on the Home Secretary to specify police ranks in regulations, thereby affording the flexibility to introduce a flatter rank structure
• improve the response to those in mental health crisis - including stopping those under 18 from being detained in a police station - and restricting such detention for adults - by reforming police powers under sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983
• reform the police disciplinary and complaints systems to ensure that the public have confidence in their ability to hold the police to account, and that police officers will uphold the highest standards of integrity
• increase in the maximum sentence for stalking involving fear of violence from five to ten years’ imprisonment
• amend the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), including to ensure that 17-year-olds who are detained in police custody are treated as children for all purposes, and to facilitate the increased use of video link technology
• amend the firearms acts to better protect the public by closing loopholes that can be exploited by criminals and terrorists, and by issuing statutory guidance to ensure that the robust processes we have in place for assessing suitability to hold a firearms certificate are applied consistently
• confer pardons, subject to conditions, for individuals living or deceased who were convicted of now abolished gay sex offences
• improve protection for victims of forced marriage and give them more confidence to come forward by providing them with lifelong anonymity

You can find more information about the Policing and Crime Act and its provisions on.

4. Emergency Services Collaboration

Close collaborative working between the emergency services can help each service better meet the demands and challenges they face as well as provide real benefits for the public. The Minister for Policing and Fire, Brandon Lewis, has made clear that he expects the pace and ambition of collaboration to increase. He is keen that all emergency services should be pursuing opportunities to collaborate, building on the Emergency Services Collaboration Working Group’s updated national overview of collaboration.

The Policing and Crime Act introduces new opportunities to further emergency services collaboration. The Act places a new duty on police, fire and rescue and ambulance services to enter into collaboration agreements where it is in the interests of their efficiency or effectiveness. This duty will come into force on 3 April.

To further collaboration, the Act also contains provisions that enable Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to take on responsibility for local fire and rescue services, where a local case is made. PCCs developing proposals are advised to contact Matthew Watts, Head of Implementation: Matthew.Watts@homeoffice.gov.uk.

5. Government announces package of measures to protect children and young people from sexual abuse

On 16 February, the Home Secretary announced the delivery of a £40 million package of measures to protect children and young people from sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking, and to crack down on offenders. The new measures include the launch of a new Centre of Expertise on child sexual abuse, additional funding for the National Crime Agency to tackle online child sexual exploitation, funding for organisations working to protect children at risk of trafficking, and the launch of Independent Child Trafficking Advocates who will provide specialist support to trafficked children in 3 early-adopter sites across the UK.

The Centre of Expertise is a consortium of health, law enforcement and social care professionals, charities and academics. The government is providing £7.5 million of funding to the Centre until 2020. It will become the definitive source of information and guidance to those tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation on the front line.

The National Crime Agency has been awarded an extra £20 million to enable it to strengthen and enhance its victim identification and child protection adviser capabilities, and to target the most serious child sexual exploitation (CSE) offenders. This builds on the work the Agency is already doing to tackle CSE, which includes increasing the number of dedicated officers working to tackle CSE to more than 300, opening a new hub to specifically undertake CSE operations and more than tripling the overall organisational effort against CSE.

Other measures announced by the Home Secretary include:

• an additional £7 million for organisations helping victims of sexual abuse, including children, doubling (for the third year) the core funding from central government for sexual abuse services
• £2.2 million has been awarded to seven charities for projects protecting vulnerable children in the UK and overseas who are at risk of trafficking. The projects cover a range of proposals including tailored support for trafficking victims from various cultures, developing skills and expertise in local areas, and a specialist accommodation pilot
• £2.2 million for the second phase of the successful Disrespect NoBody campaign, which is aimed and teens and designed to change the attitudes that cause relationship abuse
• a revised definition of child sexual exploitation to ensure frontline professionals have a shared understanding of what CSE is and how best to tackle it
• on 13 February the government launched the second phase of its ‘Together, we can tackle child abuse’ campaign, which is designed to educate people about what to do if they have any concerns about a child

6. Government publishes its Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation: Progress Report

On 16 February, the government published its Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation: Progress Report detailing the steps taken so far and what more needs to be done to combat this terrible crime. It follows the 2015 tackling child sexual exploitation report which set out an ambitious programme of work to address on a national scale the failures to protect children and young people seen in Rotherham and elsewhere.

7. New “Disrespect NoBody” campaign launched by the Home Office

The “Disrespect NoBody” campaign which aims to prevent young people from becoming perpetrators and victims of abusive relationships was launched on 2 February by the Home Office. The campaign helps young people to understand what a healthy relationship is, to re-think their views of controlling behaviour, violence, abuse, sexual abuse and what consent means within their relationships. The campaign engages teens through TV, Digital, Mobile, radio and influencers and directs those that need it to places for help and advice.

We have produced a partner pack and a range of partner support materials which you can use to promote the campaign locally. If you would like a copy of the pack, please e-mail: VAWGCampaigns@homeoffice.gov.uk

8. Department for Education launches “Together, we can tackle child abuse” campaign

Together, we can tackle child abuse is a Department for Education campaign to raise awareness and encourage members of the public to report child abuse and neglect. The campaign also seeks to remind professionals, including teachers and healthcare professionals who work with children, of their safeguarding responsibilities. The latest phase of the campaign started this month, with radio advertising in London, the North East and the North West across commercial stations until the end of March.

The Department for Education is keen to encourage partners to support the campaign, and has produced a campaign toolkit with resources for you to use locally. You are also encouraged to share the toolkit with other organisations you work with in this area, including LSCBs, charities, schools, NHS Trusts, CCGs, housing associations and community groups. As part of the campaign, the Department for Education is encouraging the public to visit the campaign website www.gov.uk/tacklechildabuse and you may also wish to promote this through your own channels.

If you would like more information on the campaign, you can contact the team by e-mailing dfechildprotectioncampaign@munroforster.com or calling 0207 089 6100.

9. The Prime Minister announces plans for a Domestic Violence and Abuse Act

Domestic violence and abuse is one of the most widespread and heinous offences, but one where victims are often let down by the legal system. To address this, on 17 February the Prime Minister announced plans for a major new programme of work leading towards bringing forward a Domestic Violence and Abuse Act.

The programme will look at what more can be done to improve support for victims, especially in the way the law, and legal procedures, currently work for such victims. Experts in this area will be invited to contribute ideas and proposals for improving the way the system works which is likely to lead to legislation – making it much easier for law enforcement bodies to find and use more consistently the measures at their disposal. The Prime Minister will directly oversee this work which will be co-ordinated by the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice.

10. “Rebalancing Act” - Tackling health issues in the Criminal Justice System

The Home Office, alongside Public Health England, has supported the charity Revolving Doors in the production of a new publication “Rebalancing Act” which is designed to help local partnerships to identify and meet the health needs of those in their communities in contact with the criminal justice system.

Launched on 11 January at a Parliamentary event hosted by Lord Bradley, the document is intended to act as a reference resource for the wide range of local partners involved in tackling the complex issues stemming from the interaction of health and criminality factors. The document recognises the growing role of Police and Crime Commissioners and forces in helping to formulate a coherent approach to local needs identification and service commissioning. The document contains a wealth of useful data and information sources on key health issues and their implications for the criminal justice system. It also provides good practice models for improving a collective response to health challenges and real life, case study examples.

11. A new Local Alcohol Action Areas programme launches

A new phase of the Local Alcohol Action Areas (LAAA) programme was launched on 27 January. The programme will support local communities tackle alcohol-related crime and health harms and create a more diverse night-time economy.

The programme will see 33 new areas develop local solutions and strategies to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder, alcohol-related health harms and promote economic growth by diversifying the night time economy. They will receive support and expertise in crime prevention, licensing and public health from the Home Office, Public Health England, the Welsh Government and Nightworks, a company that specialises in diversifying the night-time economy. The plans for the second phase of the LAAA include training on spotting and supporting vulnerability for night time economy workers, establishing safe spaces, awareness raising campaigns around alcohol misuse and domestic violence, and reviewing public transport.

The programme will run for two years and LAAA areas will also be put in touch with mentors who have successfully tackled the issues that they face and will come together to problem solve and share best practice.

12. More major retailers sign up to voluntary scheme to prevent sales of knives to under-18s

At the 2016 International Crime and Policing Conference, a new voluntary agreement to prevent the underage sale of knives was announced. A further four major retailers – Boots UK, the Co-op, B&Q and Aldi – have now joined the scheme. Under the agreement, they have committed to ensuring safeguards are in place on the sale and delivery of knives by ensuring age verification checks are robust, including regular staff training, and ensuring knives are packaged and displayed securely. The four retailers join Tesco, Lidl UK, Wilko, Argos, Morrisons, Asda, Poundland, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Amazon UK, Ebay UK and Waitrose who signed up to the agreement in March last year. This agreement on the sales of knives is part of a wider approach to tackling knife crime which is set out in our modern crime prevention strategy, and we will continue to work with the police, retailers and voluntary groups to strengthen our response to tackling knife crime.

13. Government sets out new approach to tackling ‘county lines’

Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation is a priority for this government and in January 2016 we set out our new approach to tackling this issue. Our new approach is centred on six key priorities, including tackling county lines and protecting vulnerable locations.

‘County lines’ is a term used to describe a drug distribution model, which typically involves an urban criminal gang travelling to smaller locations (such as a county or coastal town) to sell heroin and crack cocaine. Gangs often use children and vulnerable people to move drugs and money to and from the urban area. We are taking action on this issue and a new cross government county lines working group is overseeing a range of policing and law enforcement activity to tackle this issue. Alongside this, we are raising awareness among staff working in education, health, housing, youth secure estates and job centres to ensure they understand how to identify and respond to gang related exploitation of vulnerable people.

Since the issue was recognised in 2014, we have been working with local areas to help identify their main challenges and make recommendations for building their resilience and ability to respond to gang related exploitation of vulnerable people. The National Crime Agency published its latest strategic threat assessment on County Lines in November last year, and the Home Office’s partnership with the Institute for Community Safety has enabled reviews for up to 15 local areas facing new gang related threats including county lines.

14. The Home Secretary announces plans to crack down on ‘deal-lines’ used by county line drugs gangs

The Home Office has tabled new laws to tackle the drug distribution model known as county lines. The model typically involves an urban criminal gang travelling to smaller locations (such as a county or coastal town) to sell heroin and crack cocaine, operating remotely through the use of specific mobile phone numbers.

To counter this, the government has proposed new legislation which would see the so-called ‘deal-lines’ being shut down by the police. An amendment to the Digital Economy Bill was tabled on 23 January, which if passed, will compel the relevant communications provider to disconnect a mobile, SIM card or phone number where it can be proved they are being used in connection with drug offences.

15. New crime-prevention guidance for forecourt retailers

Guidance to support petrol forecourt retailers to tackle crimes and incidents that occur on petrol forecourts has been launched by the Association of Convenience Stores, in partnership with the Petrol Retailers Association, the Downstream Fuel Association and the Home Office. The Forecourt Crime Guidance was launched on 20 February 2017 and is hosted on the Association of Convenience Stores website. The industry-led guidance includes good practice to support petrol retailers across the country to do all they can to mitigate the risk of fuel theft, and, when it does occur, to respond appropriately by reporting incidents to the police and sharing intelligence consistently.

The new guidance addresses what fuel retailers can look out for to prevent ‘drive off’ incidents, where the customer fills their vehicle up with fuel and drives away from the forecourt without paying; and, how to deal with no means of payment offences, where individuals claim not to have the means available to them to pay for fuel.

The guidance was developed as part of the Home Office Forecourt Crime Steering Group which brings together representatives from business and industry, policing and law enforcement and the voluntary sector.

16. The Home Secretary extends the Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s contract

Tony Porter took up the role as Surveillance Camera Commissioner in March 2014. The Home Secretary and Permanent Secretary have now extended Mr. Porter’s term from 3 to 6 years with his contract now expiring on 10 March 2020.

The role of the Surveillance Camera Commissioner is to provide oversight and compliance with the surveillance code of practice. Later this year, the Commissioner will launch his national surveillance camera strategy for England and Wales, setting out his vision up until 2020.

17. Speeches

Brandon Lewis, Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, sets out his vision for the fire sector in 2017 at an event hosted by Reform

Baroness Williams of Trafford’s speech to Tell MAMA conference Tackling anti-Muslim hatred in Manchester and Beyond

Baroness Shields’s opening and closing speeches at the Global Counter Terrorism Forum