Agenda item

To receive a report of the Commissioner of Police.

The Sub Committee received a report of the Commissioner of Police that updated Members on the National Fraud Capability Programme.

National Fraud Investigation Bureau

The Commissioner informed Members of the recent announcement of Action Fraud co-joining with the National Fraud Investigation Bureau (NFIB) which would result in efficiency gains and increased performance.

National Fraud Authority

The closure of the National Fraud Authority (NFA) would be complete and by 1 of April 2013, the transition would be complete to the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The Chairman and officers discussed if there would be impact to staff due to the amalgamation, and there were concerns that the changes could result in negative impacts and NFA staff loss. The Commissioner noted that in the next financial year, there would be options available to examine what its functions should be and had been small in terms of staff numbers as it had operated as a multi-function outsourced call centre. The Chairman remarked that it was important that the Force was aware of the risks and vulnerabilities and articulated these due to the changes.

Members and officers discussed what inherited costs would result from staff integration to which the Commander of Economic Crime advised that risk was low and funding was available to integrate staff and find further efficiencies, many implicated were in management functions who had favourable terms and conditions of employment.

The Chairman remarked that the Force needed to be conscious of the potential decline in government funding for the NCA. The Commissioner advised that there was a dialogue occurring with the Chamberlain’s Department on how to mitigate the risk of lower funding for Action Fraud. The Chairman would liaise with the Town Clerk and Chamberlain to send a letter to the NCA advisory board with regards to the capacity of the Force as the national lead for fraud.

Regional Fraud Teams

The Commander of Economic Crime advised that there were £3.5 million available in funds for the development of regional fraud teams ranging in size, which would be a hub and spoke model with the CoLP represented on all the boards. Issues concerning how to manage performance would be addressed through the creation of standards.

A Member queried if staff would be recruited to the Regional Fraud Teams (RFT) who were external to the police forces and it was advised that the recruitment of civilian police investigators was supported and a pool of staff was being used. An additional source of candidates would also potentially be available from the Metropolitan Police Service.

The Chairman requested that Members be notified of the RFT appointments being made. The Commissioner advised that it was not possible for the Force to recruit to these teams

due to budgetary constraints, but the Force was able to ensure that intelligence officers in Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) were being developed.

The Commander of Economic Crime noted that due to the structure of the relationship between ACPO and the NCA, the Force would coordinate the work of RFTs on behalf of ACPO.  Officers discussed that the structure for organised crime teams across the country was complex with many sources of funding and RFTs were needed.

A Member stated that the Force risked being held accountable for all these new areas, and the Chairman agreed, noting that it was important for the Force to document what command responsibilities were being undertaken as cases of fraud continued to grow. He asked if there were new innovative sources of funding available as there could be less traditional sources of funds available. The Commissioner advised that a communications plan was being developed to communicate with different stakeholders on the positive work of the force in its role as the national lead force overseeing the RFTs. 

The Commander of Economic Crime noted extensive preparation was taking place in advance of the Economic Crime Awareness Day at the end of October to ensure the programme was fully articulated and that many Police and Crime Commissioners could attend.