11. Memorandum submitted by
Merseyside Police Authority
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
OFFICERS
Merseyside employ a number of Community Support
Officers across the County. PCSOs have provided a welcome visible
policing presence, and we feel have so far provided a valuable
reassurance and deterrence function. They have proved popular
with the public, in assisting in the fight against low level crime,
and anti-social behaviour. We feel they have been a useful tool
in delivering the authority's priorities, surrounding the tackling
of anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime.
Uncertainty about their future funding from
the government has so far limited the prospect of integrating
CSOs into a long term policing strategy. However, we hope that
the announcement that CSOs will be funded in the Comprehensive
Spending Review can remove any uncertainty, and allow CSOs to
play a full time future role as a valuable member of the extended
policing family here on Merseyside.
IMPROVED USE
OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY
We have broadly welcomed improved use of Science
and Technology. In particular, we have welcomed the rollout of
Airwave technology. However, lack of clarity regarding government
funding on the issue posed real problems, not only in our preparation
for the scheme itself, but also had a knock on effect on wider
budgetary matters. Question marks remain over next year also.
It must be ensured that moves to new technology are adequately
funded and costed, and that these cost implications are monitored
and followed right through by government.
THE GOVERNMENT'S
RESPONSE TO
THE O'DOWD
REPORT OF
POLICE BUREAUCRACY
We have been relatively successful in reducing
bureaucracy in order to free up officers for front line duty,
and find efficiency savings that have had useful budgetary implications.
However, such savings are perhaps more difficult to deliver than
is sometimes suggested by government, and are becoming increasingly
so. Additionally, there can be budget implications when moving
officers to front line duty or slimlining bureaucratic staff,
particularly in relation to back filling of posts with support
staff. A "real terms" cash saving is rarely 100% of
the perceived cost.
THE NATIONAL
POLICING PLAN
The national policing plan has provided a degree
of direction and uniformity from government. However, as it is
produced annually for a rolling three years, there are occasionally
shifts in emphasis which can prove problematic. The next policing
plan is expected to be less prescriptive, which we welcome, and
will help inform our 05/06 Annual Policing Plan.
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES
Merseyside Police are already using Independent
Advisors as a result of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report. The
advisors have a role in providing community and cultural advice
to police in critical incidents, more recently their role has
included involvement in training (post Secret Policeman), policy
development, press releases and calls and response.
These advisors are independent and in a good
position to develop as community advocates with the correct capacity
building and training. This can also work on a neighbourhood level.
Advisors currently state which issues they wish to be involved
in and what geographic areas they are prepared to work in.
Merseyside has good multi-agency networks with
statutory and voluntary sectors. Agencies within these networks
are often in a position to provide advocacy for community members.
Neighbourhood panels can work with careful co-ordination.
MPA have conducted a Best Value Review into the Police and Community
Forum meetings on Merseyside, which have highlighted that some
communities are not being reached and more work is to be undertaken
in these areas, they are:
Black and racial minorities
Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgendered communities
(LGBT)
Further examinations have shown the need for
more innovative neighbourhood engagement and the need to cut duplication
which leads to "consultation fatigue", which in turn
becomes a barrier to effective community engagement.
All feedback received from members of the public
attending Police and Community Forum state they feel that the
neighbourhood panel method of engagement is a good tool for engagement,
for those not attending, the panel method could be intimidating
for those not familiar with the meeting structures and other methods
could be used such as issue based focus groups, roadshows and/or
surgery type drop ins.
THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN NATIONAL
STANDARDS/PRIORITIES
AND LOCAL
DECISION MAKING
Many national priorities are also our local
priorities. However, more flexibility to move our local priorities
higher up the agenda, than national priorities would be welcome.
THE EXTENT
TO WHICH
A PERFORMANCE
CULTURE IS
EMBEDDING ITSELF
WITHIN THE
POLICE SERVICE
Merseyside Police Force are making great strides
towards a performance culture. However, in some cases, they are
reluctant to set targets, although in the specific cases this
has been with the agreement of the authority. "Monitor and
Improve" is a recurring phrase, which we believe illustrates
the drive towards a performance orientated service.
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS
FOR POLICING,
AND THE
FUTURE OF
THE TRIPARTITE
STRUCTURE
In essence, the tripartite structure provides
the right means by which we can balance operations, local accountability,
and government. Any change in the formal balance of sharing responsibility
risks, on the one hand a politicisation of the police service,
and on the other inadequate monitoring and accountability, which
would be detrimental to both policing itself and its relationship
with local communities. It provides adequate safeguards against
persistent failure, with the ability of the Home Secretary and
HMIC to step in, in the most extreme cases, whilst also retaining
the operational independence of Chief Officers, and the localisation
of policing priorities through police authorities.
We believe that the current structure is "about
right" as far as accountability mechanisms are concerned.
After all, we are already delivering Neighbourhood Policing here
on Merseyside, and believe this is largely because of, not despite,
the current arrangements. For example, members have made it a
crucial requirement in key appointments, and are able to continually
assess and monitor its impact. We do note however, the need for
continual improvement, and accept that in some areas such improvement
is needed more urgently than others. We are happy to be responsible
for delivering this.
We feel that wholesale structural reform at
this stage would inhibit, rather than assist, progress towards
re-connecting policing with local people. Amending and improving
the current structure, through more BCU and Neighbourhood focused
accountability channels, or the ability to co-opt members onto
authorities as required, appears to us to present the best way
forward.
Directly elected police authorities would provide
a dangerously false impression of direct accountability, with
potentially grave consequences for equality of service across
our communities. We believe they would impinge on operational
effectiveness and independence, and in practice would almost certainly
have a delivery deficit between promise and outcome.
OTHER ISSUES—NEIGHBOURHOOD
POLICING
Neighbourhood policing is, rightly, gaining
credence nationwide as providing a useful model from which to
approach policing today. It was pioneered here on Merseyside,
and we are pleased to see it spread further. However, it can only
succeed with the necessary levels of support from government.
High visibility policing is at the heart of the practice, and
this needs to be funded and sustained at an increasing level to
that which we are seeing now. We welcome this recognition through
the government's support for the increasing use of PCSOs on our
streets. Merseyside Police Authority recognise also, that the
number of sworn officers must be substantially increased for Neighbourhood
Policing to work successfully. We have been successful in increasing
our officer numbers, despite budgetary constraints, through a
variety of efficiency measures, and moderately above inflation
precept rises. However, these savings cannot continue exponentially,
and adequate funding will be required from central government.
Neighbourhood policing is the way forward, if
properly supported. We do caution however, that it is not a model
that can be provided successfully if under resourced.
29 July 2004
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