Archived decisions

    AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY held in the First Floor Meeting Room, Westgate Chambers, Staple Gardens, Winchester on Tuesday 10 June, 2003

PRESENT:

    Mrs. R. Atkinson; Mrs. L. Cawsey JP; Councillor A.P. Collett; Councillor J. Fazackarley; Councillor D. Gillett; Mrs. J. Griffin JP; Mr. R.J. Gully; Councillor S.A. Hayes; Councillor P.A. Heath; Mr. G.M. King JP; Councillor D. Knowles; Councillor P. Mason; Mr. R. Palmer; Councillor Mrs. J. Rayment; Councillor Mrs. M. Snaith.

    Also present: Mr. P.C.B. Robertson (Clerk); Mr. P.R. Kernaghan (Chief Constable); Mr. I.R. Readhead (Deputy Chief Constable); Mr. P. Carey-Kent (Treasurer's Office); Mr. M. Coombes (Director of Finance); Mr. C. Smith (Assistant Chief Constable, Specialist Operations); Mr. G. Wyeth (Temporary Assistant Chief Constable, Territorial Operations); Chief Supt. G. Stogdon (Corporate Services); Detective Supt. J. Fox; Chief Inspector P. Bright (Criminal Justice Unit); Inspector B. Gravenor (Corporate Services); Mr. G. Ford and Mrs. J. Simms (Corporate Services); Mrs. M. Boyes; Mrs. A. Holtby and Ms. C. Vagg (Clerk's Office).

713 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

That Councillor S.A. Hayes be appointed Chairman for the ensuing year.

      The Chairman thanked Members for their continued support and welcomed those present to the first meeting of the Authority in its new accommodation. He also, extended his thanks to the Authority's staff who had worked hard to ensure that the work had been completed in time.

714 MINUTES

      (a) Meeting held on 24 March, 2003

      The Minutes of the meeting of the Councillor and Magistrates Members of the Authority held on 24 March, 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

      Matters arising      :

      Minute 693 - Appointment of Independent Members

      The Chairman confirmed that Mr. N. Singh had resigned from the Police Authority with immediate effect on 3 June, 2003 for personal reasons.

      The Chairman confirmed to the Authority that this now left two vacancies to be dealt with as promptly as possible.

      (b) Meeting held on 30 April, 2003

      The Minutes of the meeting of the Authority held on 30 April, 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

      Matters arising      :

      Minute 700 - Safety Camera Partnership for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

      The Chief Constable confirmed that the partnership website was a public website and undertook to provide Mr. Palmer with the correct route for access.

715 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

That Mr. R.J. Gully be appointed Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

Mr. Gully thanked the members of the Authority for their renewed confidence and attributed any success to the whole team, which included members of the Authority and the Authority's staff.

716 APOLOGIES

There were no apologies received.

The Chairman advised Members that the Deputy Clerk was currently on sick leave with a badly injured ankle and asked for the best wishes of the Authority to be conveyed to her.

717 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

The Chairman welcomed Temporary Assistant Chief Constable G. Wyeth, Detective Supt. J. Fox and Chief Inspector P. Bright to the meeting.

      (a) Independent Member Vacancies

      The Chairman reaffirmed that the Authority was now dealing with two independent member vacancies and that correspondence was ongoing with the Home Office to identify a way forward. He indicated that he would be willing to personally speak with the Home Office and visit them to progress the matter. He informed Members of the background to the current position and underlined the importance of seeking an early resolution to this matter in order to reduce the current workload on Members caused by the current shortage of two members.

      (b) Association of Police Authorities (APA)

      The Chairman referred to recent correspondence received from the APA in response to the Chairman's letter setting out the Authority's concerns at the level of rise in the APA's subscription for 2003/04 and other matters. It appeared that the APA were addressing two of the concerns raised as they had agreed to appoint a part-time finance manager to monitor the APA budget reporting to the Finance Panel of the APA and had set up a lobbying group. The Chairman had been included on this group along with five other chairmen of police authorities. The Group had already met to establish a strategy for lobbying and were receiving good support from the executive and plenary members of the APA. The main concern remained that there did not appear to be a mechanism to express and promote the minority views within the APA. He indicated that the Authority would review its position in September and that there would also be an opportunity to put a motion to the APA annual conference in November should the need arise.

      (c) Technical Service Unit

      The Chairman confirmed that the Technical Service Unit had now been relocated and the unit was now fully operational. The Chairman congratulated the Team for achieving this within the timescale.

      (d) Chief Constable

      The Chairman welcomed the Chief Constable who had returned safely from his recent visit to Iraq and he asked him to provide Members with a verbal update on his visit.

      The Chief Constable described the situation when he arrived in Basra and stated that he had been impressed with how the army was working in the area. He indicated that he had submitted a report to the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary on his return, with a recommendation that an Assistant Chief Constable be deployed to Iraq to assist in structuring a new police force.

718 MEMBERSHIP OF PANELS AND APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES

The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which dealt with the membership of its panels and appointments to outside bodies.

RESOLVED:

      (a) That the membership of the Panels set out in the Appendix, as amended at the meeting, be confirmed (a copy is appended to these minutes).

      (b) That the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Panels indicated in the Appendix to the report be appointed for the forthcoming year. (A copy is appended to these minutes).

      (c) That the appointment to outside bodies as set out in the Appendix, as amended at the meeting, be confirmed (a copy is appended to these minutes).

      (d) That the members appointed to the 12 territorial basic command units as approved at the meeting be confirmed.

      (e) That the Panel terms of reference, as amended at the meeting, as set out in Appendix B be confirmed (a copy is appended to these minutes).

719 VICTORIA CLIMBIE REPORT CHECKLIST

The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the checklist issued to all police forces from the Home Office following the circumstances surrounding the death of Victoria Climbie. Members noted that Hampshire Constabulary had actioned completely the following police recommendations from the Climbie Enquiry: 91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 103, 105, 107. Recommendations 98 and 103 were incomplete but Detective Supt. Fox assured Members that the Constabulary were working to ensure compliance in these areas. He added that, although recommendation 98 was in the police section it was actually for action by the four local social services departments, three of which as yet did not comply. As it required action by social services departments there were no resource implications for the police. Detective Supt. Fox referred in particular to paragraph 1.4 in relation to recommendation 103 which related to having a significant core of trained detectives within the Force Child Protection Unit (CPU). The initial action to achieve a 50% split of uniform and CID officers had been achieved and it was envisaged that to achieve the 100% target of all CPU investigators being detectives would take until 2005 to complete and would have training implications. However, it was envisaged that these would be absorbed within the planned training investigators programme for the next two years with minimal resource implications.

Detective Supt. Fox reiterated that police procedures had not been robust enough in the Victoria Climbie case and that consequently, Hampshire needed to ensure that it's own procedures were robust enough to avoid any similar cases in the future. He undertook to provide Members with a copy of the executive summary and the three police chapters contained within the report. The Chief Constable offered to discuss any other issues arising from this area of work outside of the meeting.

Members were concerned that some children might be missed as they had arrived in the country illegally and would not on a national register. Councillor Hayes thanked Detective Supt. Fox for his presentation of the report and for the continued work of his team. The Authority commended the Chief Constable and his staff for their commitment to the work of the Child Protection Unit. In response, Detective Supt. Fox invited Members to visit the department at any time should they be interested in doing so. Mr. Smith confirmed that he would be happy to provide an update on the issue of detective training in due course and that the Authority might be interested in making comments in relation to the green paper which will be published as a consultation document in due course.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

720 POLICE AND SUPPORT STAFF STRENGTH

The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the police and support staff strength and availability against budgeted strength as at 31 May, 2003. All figures shown were full-time equivalents in that part-time officer hours had been aggregated to show full-time strength. Initial budgeted strength was 3,727 posts and it was forecast that the Force would be up to actual strength by July, 2003. The Home Office had allocated 18 crime fighting fund posts to Hampshire for 2003/04. These posts would be added to the budgeted strength in the second half of the financial year making a total of 3,745 posts.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

721 ANNUAL REPORT 2002/03

The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the process to be undertaken for the production of the Authority's Annual Report. The combined Annual Report 2002/03, Annual Policing Plan 2003/04 and Best Value Performance Plan 2003/04 would be printed and published in hard copy, circulated to an agreed distribution, including the Secretary of State, and published on the internet. The document would take the same format as the joint publication 2002.

RESOLVED:

      (a) That the report be noted.

      (b) That the Annual Report be merged with the Annual Policing Plan and Best Value Performance Plan.

      (c) That the combined Annual Report 2002/03, Annual Policing 2003/04 and Best Value Performance Plan 2003/04 be circulated in final draft format to the Chairman of the Community Affairs Panel and the Chairman of the Performance Panel for approval on behalf of their respective Panel.

      (d) That the Authority delegate responsibility for approving the Annual Report 2002/03 to the Clerk to the Authority and the Chairman of the Authority.

722 BEST VALUE PLANNING PROCESS

The Authority considered a report of the Chairman of the Performance Panel (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the proposals put forward for a new risk assessment approach to the best value planning process. A new process to select areas for best value review has been developed which took account of these proposals and was presented for further discussion.

Inspector Gravenor introduced the report and advised Members that the new process of consultation had already commenced. It was intended to report on progress at the next meeting of the Performance Panel on 27 June, 2003 and to present a proposed new review programme at the meeting on 8 August, 2003.


      RESOLVED:

      (a) That the proposed process be endorsed.

      (b) That a new Best Value Review Programme for the 18 month period from October, 2003 to March, 2005 be drawn up and amended annually thereafter, as appropriate.

      (c) That the Best Value Manual of Guidance be amended as necessary.

723 NARROWING THE JUSTICE GAP

The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the new Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB) which had been formed on 1 April, 2003, with the aims of narrowing the justice gap and increasing public confidence in the criminal justice system.

The Chief Constable, who was a member of the Board, introduced the report and indicated that the LCJB also comprised of the Magistrates Courts, Crown Courts, Probation Service, Prison Service and Wessex Youth Offending Team who were also represented at executive level.

Chief Inspector Bright outlined the six priority areas included in the Narrowing the Justice Gap Action Plan and indicated that, in relation to Priority 4, a protocol had now been signed by the Crown Prosecution Service and the Magistrates Court to ensure that warrants were supplied on the same day allowing action to be taken quicker. In relation to Priority 3, Southampton had been highlighted as a pilot area to ensure the quality and frequency of precharged advice was improved and generally to make improvements in case progression. Priority 5, enabled the greater effective use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). The effectiveness of investigating volume crime would also need to be improved and, in this respect, consideration was being given to employing ex police officers to act as mentors. Chief Inspector Bright offered to update the Authority in March 2004 and update them on the issues already raised.

Members commented that they were glad to see development of a witness care unit in Portsmouth but noted the training issue for the Constabulary in relation to Priority 5. They also welcomed the improvements in relation to Priority 3 and hoped that the LCJB would be more effective than its predecessor.

The Chief Constable stressed the importance of a professional prosecution to ensure that the evidence gathering by the Constabulary was capitalised upon.

RESOLVED:

That the Authority be updated on completion of the first year to evaluate whether targets have been met.

724 NATIONAL FIREARMS AMNESTY IN HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT

The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on the success of the National Firearms Amnesty which was held between 31 March to 30 April, 2003. Assistant Chief Constable (Specialist Operations) introduced the report and confirmed that the amnesty in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight had been a great success with a total of 1,540 firearms and 42,795 rounds of ammunition being surrendered. The Constabulary was particularly pleased with the number of replicas and air pistols which had been surrendered as they were considered to be an area where problems arose often requiring an armed response. All firearms had now been sent off for destruction with a small number being supplied to local museums.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

725 BASIC COMMAND UNIT DISCRETIONARY FINANCES (BCU)

The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 13 in the Minute Book) outlining the position in respect of Basic Command Unit (BCU) grant, and drugs and crime reduction funding schemes available to Basic Command Unit Commanders.

The Director of Finance introduced the report and advised the Authority that the Financial Affairs Panel had been appraised of the position in relation to discretionary funding now available to BCU Commanders. The BCU grant announced only hours after the Police Authority had agreed the local budget and council tax precept increase had been allocated to BCUs to assist commanders to work with other key agencies in tackling issues such as street crime, anti-social behaviour and burglary. The fund had been allocated according to the crime levels in BCUs. This formula did not reward good performance. The overtime issues were covered in paragraph 6.4 of the report. As a high proportion of the BCU grant would be spent on overtime, the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) had approved plans on how BCU money would be spent which will incur overtime. The Chief Constable had taken this up nationally as well as ACPO as this did not assist the Force in achieving the Government objective to reduce police overtime by 15% over the next three years. The Chief Constable's correspondence sought to prevent the use of all additional BCU and partnership funding being excluded from police overtime.


      Members thanked the Chief Constable for his comprehensive report and expressed concern both at the level of resources being committed to the administration of the various grants and the apparent drift towards centralisation through the direct funding of BCU's.


      The Chief Constable confirmed that any funding received in relation to the policing of football matches would also need to be included in the overtime target. He suggested that if Members wished to influence this matter they should make representations before July and the Chairman confirmed that he would discuss this issue with the Chairman of the Financial Affairs Panel. Members suggested also that the issue should be raised through the APA in order to express a strong voice on the centralisation issue.

      RESOLVED:

      That the report be noted.

726 POLICE AUTHORITY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - FOURTH QUARTER REPORT - JANUARY TO MARCH, 2003

The Authority received the fourth quarter report on the progress of the 2002/03 Annual Policing Plan (Item 14 in the Minute Book).

The Chief Constable introduced the report and informed Members that the Constabulary had failed to achieve the target on serious and fatal traffic collisions. Members sought clarification on a percentage increase on recorded crimes per 1000 population and the crime detection rate for 2002/03 and it was noted that the introduction of NCRS (National Crime Recording Standard) was resulting in a 12% increase across England and Wales for all crime. Members confirmed that they would prefer to see the figures for individual BCU's to enable them to compare trends. The Chief Constable undertook to provide this information in future reports.

      Members were pleased to note that there had been a slight reduction in the number of fatal/serious road traffic collisions, period January to March, 2003 and asked clarification whether this was due to the launch of the safety camera partnerships.


      With regard to complaints the Deputy Chief Constable advised Members that every complaint handled by the Professional Standards Department (PSD) was monitored from the day it arrived in order to reduce delay. Members also asked if domestic violence was included in BV127. Mr. Ford confirmed that it was and undertook to provide further detail in relation to domestic violence at a future meeting.

      The Chairman of the Performance Panel confirmed that she would be happy for her Panel to consider any performance related issues that Members of the Authority felt important even if they were not an existing member of that Panel. Members asked that figures reported under the Best Value Indicators be reported to another decimal point. The Constabulary were thanked for a good report.

      RESOLVED:

      That the fourth quarter report on the progress of the 2002/03 Annual Policing Plan be noted and that the thanks of the Authority be conveyed to the Constabulary for providing the information required in the most appropriate format for the Authority.

727 MEMBERS ATTENDING CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS OF OUTSIDE BODIES

The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 15 in the Minute Book) which sought approval for the attendance of Members at conferences and meetings of outside bodies contained within the report.

RESOLVED:

(a) That, the attendance of Members at the events indicated, as amended at the meeting be approved.

    (b) That, Mr. R. Gully, Mrs. R. Atkinson, Councillor J. Fazackarley, Councillor A. Collett, Councillor Mrs. J. Rayment and Councillor S. Hayes be appointed toa attend the Association of Police Authorities Annual Conference to be held on 4/5 November 2003.
    .

728 MINUTES OF THE PERSONNEL PANEL

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Personnel Panel held on 27 May, 2003 be received (Item 16 in the Minute Book).

729 MINUTES OF THE CRIME PREVENTION PANEL

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Crime Prevention Panel held on 29 May, 2003 be received and, where necessary, adopted (Item 17 in the Minute Book).

730 MINUTES OF THE FINANCIAL AFFAIRS PANEL

The Minutes of the meeting of the Financial Affairs Panel held on 30 May 2003 were not available at the time of the meeting.

731 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, by virtue of Paragraph 9 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting.

732 LEASE OF TOP FLOOR OF WESTGATE CHAMBERS

The Authority considered a confidential report of the Clerk (Item 20 in the Minute Book) on proposals for finalising the lease arrangements for the top floor of Westgate Chambers. The Clerk introduced the report and reminded the Members of their approval in principle to the arrangements at the Awayday on the 17 April, 2003.


The Clerk referred in more detail to the financial contribution from the lessee to the cost of the rent and he confirmed the break lease arrangements.

RESOLVED:

That the lease terms as set out in the report be approved and the Clerk be authorised to complete the necessary legal formalities.

    [NB: Councillor Heath declared an interest in relation to this matter.]


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