Agenda item
Police Service Basic Command Units (BCU) views and issues for Tower Hamlets
- Meeting of Online 'Virtual' Meeting, Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Monday, 25th January, 2021 6.30 p.m. (Item 7.2)
- View the background to item 7.2
A copy of the presentation will be made available prior to the meeting.
Minutes:
The Committee received a presentation from Marcus Barnett (Detective Chief Superintendent - BCU Commander - Central East – Hackney and Tower Hamlets); Mike Hamer – (Superintendent Crime Investigations, Central East – Hackney and Tower Hamlets); and Andy Port (Superintendent Neighbourhood Policing, Central East – Hackney and Tower Hamlets) on views and issues for Tower Hamlets: The main points of the discussion maybe summarised as follows:
The Committee
v Expressed concern over the issue of a prolonged abstractions of Designated Ward Police Officers and the impact that, that can have in dealing with anti-social behaviour as opposed to criminal activity. Noted that because the Basic Command Unit (BCU) officers are trained to certain skills they will have to go and police other parts of London.
v Following questioning of the officers noted that whenever the BCU faces significant abstraction levels they must look at carefully certain parts of the business that cannot afford to drop below what is describe as an absolute minimum strength requirement. Also, when the BCU must extract resources on the funded posts they always speak to the partner agency to tell them when they are going to have to abstract officers. Noted whilst the BCU wants to maintain an absolute optimum level now as it stands the BCU has all the officers it should have within all the neighbourhood and ward panels.
v Expressed concern at the use of Section 60s the BCU has worked hard in recent months around the partnership messaging regarding its utilisation in conjunction with stop and search. Noted that the use of Section 60 is very much about preventing and detecting violence on the streets based on intelligence that says it is believed that there is violence going to occur and weapons will be used or violence has happened and the BCU wants to prevent further violence from happening. It enables officers and others who will come into the BCU to provide support to search people. However, officers still must justify the grounds for any search in a specific geographical location.
v In addition, were advised that the BCU make sure that partners and the community understand why and when a Section 60 has been authorised through a partnership message to let people know what is being done and why. Noted that on the issue of Section 60 the SNB has taken its use very seriously and in recent months and have closely scrutinised the BCU on this issue and asked questions about whether there is a need to undertake the various searches or whether in fact the searches could be undertaken under other areas of legislation.
v Noted concerns about the outcome of an incident that had happened during a specific Section 60 that had been authorised a sometime prior to the arrival of the current BCU Commander. The OSC Member who had raised this issue was asked to write directly to BCU Commander to provide more information about that incident.
v Following further question noted details about Operation Continuum that had developed as a partnership approach to tackle crime, disorder and violence linked to the street-based drug markets. This has enabled the Council and partners to use local knowledge, experience, and resources to support the BCU disrupt and enforce perpetrators of crime and the anti-social behaviour linked to drug dealing. Noted the BCU want to hit drug dealers in the pocket and one of their aims is to seize assets using various aspects of legislation and the Home Office make allocations of seized assts according to formulas based on productivity to different BCUs. Accordingly, in the Metropolitan Police Service there is a fund that supports operations and the most productive BCU’s receive a significant share of that money to use in their work around drug dealing.
v As a result of questioning noted that the Central East – Hackney and Tower Hamlets BCU gets a substantial share of that money through a bidding on an operation-by-operation basis and used to target further drug trafficking.
v In reply to questioning noted that as 2020 has been a not representative year and it has been difficult to assess what progress has been made in making ward panels more representative. The anecdotal feedback has indicated that they look quite different as different people have been involved because the panel meetings have taken place at different times of day and it will therefore take a little longer to make any meaningful assessment.
v Following questioning noted that with the Borough’s population changes the BCU are looking at innovative ways for them to continue to reach and touch communities to ensure that residents have access to local policing e.g. do residents access services online or reporting through the neighbourhood hubs.
v As a result of questioning it was noted that Covid is an additional significant police priority and it will continue to be a priority to enforce the legislation but the BCU cannot afford to take their eyes off other areas. As Covid is an addition to the agreed policing priorities which absolutely remain. However, noted that the BCU has been very proactive and very robust around the enforcement of the Covid legislation and particularly in recent weeks around unlicensed music events. Also noted that before fines are issued to rule-breakers, police officers will first:
· Engage with people, to ask why they appear to be breaking the rules.
· Explain the law, stressing the risks to public health and the NHS.
· Encourage them to change their behaviour; and
· Enforce by issuing penalty notices, as a last resort.
v Noted however that most people in the community have adhered to the legislation which is clear about saving lives and protecting the NHS.
In conclusion, the Chair:
- Thanked Marcus Barnett, Mike Hamer and Andy Port for their presentation and participation in the discussions on this topic.
2. Indicated that following consultation with Scrutiny Lead for Community Safety & Environment a report would be prepared for submission to the BCU on areas for continued scrutiny; and
3. Noted the offer by Marcus Barnett to return to a future meeting to discuss views and issues for Tower Hamlets BCU.
Supporting documents:
- 25 Jan OSC cover page BC presentation, item 7.2 PDF 128 KB
- Complete Police Presentation, item 7.2 PDF 210 KB