Agenda item

Integrity Dashboard and Code of Ethics Update

Report of the Commissioner of Police

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Commissioner of Police that provided Members with an update on CoLP’s Integrity Dashboard and Code of Ethics.

 

The Head of Strategic Development explained that a summary of meetings had not been included due to the timing of the agenda submission deadline prior to the meeting of the Integrity Standards Board.  He explained that the dashboard was well received at that meeting on 23 May, and the performance of CoLP was deemed to be stable.  He noted that an action from the meeting raised by the Assistant Commissioner was the question of ethical crime recording.

 

The Head of Strategic Development explained that the London Police Challenge Forum (LPCF) was well attended on 29 April.  The Chairman noted that the lack of minutes/notes being circulated following the meeting was a real concern. The Head of Strategic Development agreed and noted that there wasn’t any perceivable reason why they could not be.  He noted that many of the issues covered could be overlooked as minor, though cumulatively have a significant impact on Police performance.

 

The Chairman suggested that it would be valuable for Members to attend the next meeting on 5 July and requested that the Town Clerk circulate the details to Members.  A Member asked that the meeting outcomes also be circulated to Members. (4)

 

The Chairman asked if Crime Audits were ongoing, and the Head of Strategic Development confirmed that they were.  The Assistant Commissioner explained that the procedures for the recording of crime had been amended on 1 May, with the Force Control Room now taking incoming crimes directly.  He explained that CoLP were employing a more forensic approach to their first contacts on crimes.  He noted that CoLP had received a rating of “inadequate” for crime reporting, and in an effort to correct this, there would likely be an increase in reported crime rates.  He explained that the central challenge was around the prioritisation of crimes.  The Chairman asked if this issue would feature in a report to Police Committee on 12 July, and the Assistant Commissioner noted that this was a possibility.  He noted that an unexplained rise in crime figures which could result, may have a detrimental effect on officers’ confidence.

 

In reference to Business Interest investigations cited within the Integrity Dashboard, a Member asked whether scores of “0” were reliable, or were indicative of a lack of resource available to monitor thoroughly.  The Director of Professional Standards confirmed that all the figures were representative as each Business Interest was being checked.

 

The Chairman noted that measure No.17- Identified Breaches of the Donations and Sponsorship SOP had data missing and this was a result of a lack of staffing resource.  The Assistant Commissioner confirmed that CoLP’s finance function was now at full strength, with an interim Finance Director appointed for 6-months.  He explained that a financial tasking meeting would take place every Monday morning and so he was confident that CoLP were now in a stronger position.  The Chairman asked that measure No.17 – Identified Breaches of the Donations and Sponsorship SOP be marked as an outstanding action. (5) The Head of Strategic Development explained to Members that this log was kept with the aim of providing reassurance and explained that they were generally happy and would ensure to keep it high on CoLP’s agenda.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be received.

 

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