Agenda item
Presentation from the Borough Commander - Metropolitan Police
To receive a presentation from the Borough Commander.
Minutes:
The Chair welcomed DC Paul Rickett, Borough Commander, who had been invited to speak to the Committee in regard to policing of serious crime in the Borough. Issues around policing of domestic violence and rape were discussed.
Members were informed that domestic violence figures in the Borough were lower than the London average while common assault figures were higher than average. These indicated that the Borough was robust at monitoring at the lower end of the scale and had a good arrest policy. Performance in response to domestic violence calls averaged at nine minutes and the Borough Commander encouraged a proactive approach to domestic violence intervention.
It was noted that the Force was prepared to arrest but there were subsequent performance implications on Court action as victims often declined to support prosecutions. “Claire’s Law” was supported by the Borough Police and with support for victims offered up to prosecution.
Attrition rate for domestic violence prosecutions was 40%, caused by a combination of factors such as the variable reporting rate of certain types of crime and reluctance in pursuing prosecutions. In this regard, the Police was generally influenced by the victims wishes. Where victims withdrew statements, these were investigated but in all cases victims’ wishes would be put first. The prosecution rate was above average.
Regarding rape crime, reporting had increased but prosecutions had decreased. Borough data was higher than that of neighbouring boroughs as Tower Hamlets had recently opened the first regional sex offences haven and this affected the figures reported.
In 2012, 145 rapes had been reported year to date and the sanction detection rate was 15.9%. It was noted that following two notable prosecutions, rape investigations were dealt with regionally via SCD2. In these types of crime, the concerns of the victim were always prioritised.
Reported walk-in crime data were also monitored. At the time of reporting all matters were classified and treated as substantive crime. A reported crime might later be re-graded as a crime related incident where it could be demonstrated that assessment of the crime at the time reported had been incorrect or the crime disproved via other processes such as CCTV evidence.
The Committee requested figures on rape reported as substantive crime and later reclassified.
Action Borough Commander / Andy Bamber, Service Head, Community Safety.
The Committee requested a ward breakdown of prostitution policing data.
Action Borough Commander / Andy Bamber, Service Head, Community Safety.
Borough objectives and targets were established via a joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) undertaken with partners through the Safer Tower Hamlets Partnership. Assessment had been used since 1994 to indicate what was driving community safety concerns. Analysis of JSNA informed the control strategy and where investment would be made. The Borough Control Strategy was locally focussed and might differ from the overall control strategy of the Metropolitan Police.
The Committee also requested data on recruitment under Section 92 agreements and resource allocations across the Borough as at end of March 2012. The Committee also asked to be advised of what resources there would be at the end of March 2012.
Action Borough Commander / Andy Bamber, Service Head, Community Safety.
The Chair thanked the Borough Commander for his account and information provided.
RESOLVED
That the verbal report and presentation be noted.