Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

The Chair welcomed Jason Groves to his first meeting as a Member of the Board.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 19 July 2023.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2023 are approved as an accurate record.

Joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk which set out Outstanding References from previous meetings of the Committee.

In addition to the updates provided in the report, the following comments were made:-

• 6/2023/P – Members of the Board expressed a keen desire to see the work on the review of bylaws brought forward as soon as possible.
• 8/2023/P – the update on post-implementation review of the Special Constabulary would not come later than March 2024.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Board to consider the appointment of a Board Member to the Professional Standards and Integrity Committee and the Strategic Planning and Performance Committee

Members considered appointments to the Professional Standards and Integrity Committee (PSIC) and the Strategic Planning and Performance Committee (SPPC).

No nominations had been received by the Town Clerk in advance of the meeting.

Following his recent appointment to the Board, the Chair proposed that Jason Groves take the position on both Sub-Committees.

As Mr Groves was already a Member of PSIC as Co-Opted Member of the Court, the Board agreed that this vacancy should be released back to the Court. The Town Clerk was to advertise the vacancy which would then be considered at the next meeting of the Board (October 2023).

The Town Clerk noted that there was still a City of London Police Authority Board vacancy on the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub (Community & Children’s Services) Committee. Helen Fentimen noted she was already on the Sub-Committee in another capacity and, with the Board’s consent, agreed to represent the Board, too.

RESOLVED, That Members:-

• Appoint Jason Groves to the Professional Standards and Integrity Committee for the remainder of the year ensuing;
• Appoint Jason Groves to the Strategic Planning and Performance Committee for the remainder of the year ensuing;
• Instruct the Town Clerk to advertise the Co-Opted Court of Common Council vacancy on Professional Standards and Integrity Committee, for appointment by the Board at its next meeting; and

Appoint Helen Fentimen to the outstanding Board vacancy on the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub (Community & Children’s Services) Committee, for the year ensuing.

The Chair to be heard.

Members received the public update of the Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Commissioner & Chief Officers to be heard.

Members received the public update of the Commissioner.

Shoplifting

A question was raised on the recently published figure that suggested the City of London had seen an 85.7% increase in incidents of shoplifting against the previous year.

The Commissioner confirmed that the City of London Police was not invited to comment on this before publication and would challenge whether it was correct. It was suggested that there had been an increase of approximately 12% (22 more offences) when compared to the previous year.

The City of London Police used the THRIVE model to assess response (Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation, Vulnerability and Engagement). Retail units had been providing positive feedback on the proactive approach and  responses received by the City of London Police, despite the overall increase in cases.

It was noted that the confidence in the response could have, in turn, lead to increased reporting. This metric was therefore not necessarily fair measuring the effectiveness of the Force.

Strategic Planning and Performance Committee would continue to monitor rates of shoplifting.

Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting and Analysis Procurement

In opening remarks, the Commissioner noted that work was underway to streamline the 60 categories of crime that victims had to pick from on Action Fraud. In response to this, the Board sought assurance that this was being done in such a way that ensured the Force’s ability to benchmark new data against old data.

Testing was ongoing and consideration would be given to the use of data for benchmarking. It was also noted that thought was being given to linked crimes (for example: Crypto-crime can lead to sextortion and blackmail.)

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Joint report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services and the Director of the Police Authority.

Following discussion on this matter at the recent Strategic Planning and Performance Committee meeting, the Chair and Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services agreed to withdraw the report.

There was some member support for the proposal to extend Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) powers as the paper proposed.  The City of London Police supported the proposal.  But other Members expressed concerns about the process for extending the Parkguard contract and whether the money would be better invested in the Force; oversight of the use of CSAS powers; the use of handcuffs by private companies; and the lack of clarity generally about the powers of Parkguard.

The Police Authority Director and Executive Director of Community & Children’s Services agreed to address these in a re-draft of the report. It was also proposed that Parkguard be invited to the relevant meeting.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding an update on the City of London Police’s response to anti-social behaviour and offences perpetrated by cyclists and e-scooter riders in the City.

The Board congratulated the Force and welcomed the success of the trial cycle squad. The Commissioner explained that there was a need to formally evaluate the trial and, whilst they were not seeking to stop the initiative, there may be a challenge in finding the posts permanently. The Chair asked that when the evaluation came forward, that thought be given to scale and other opportunities.

It was suggested that thought be given to promote the Cycle Squad on  Social Media.

Whilst understanding of the need to educate ahead of enforcement and that response must be proportionate, a question was raised on the issuing of on-the-spot fines and other deterrents to ensure the success of Vision Zero by 2041 (ensuring that all deaths and serious injuries will be eliminated from London's transport network). The Force confirmed the details of a recent, pro-active Operation held at Bank Junction on 11-15 September, during which nine private e-scooters were seized and 77 Fixed Penalty Notices issued.

A holistic approach would continue to be taken, engaging with relevant partner organisations such as the ambulance service, to ensure the Force was doing all it can in this sphere. It was suggested that, included within this, the Force look to work with cycling groups.

The relevance of sustainability and the continued increase national interest for climate-friendly travel, was highlighted.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members received a report of the Commissioner concerning the Quarterly Community Engagement Update.

The Deputy Chair (also the Chair of Strategic Planning and Performance Committee) noted that this report had been considered at their recent meeting. It was suggested that the ongoing work was positive and that more substance on outcomes was sought for future.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding a quarterly update on Equality and Inclusion.

It was noted this report had already been discussed at the Professional Standards and Integrity Committee. Debate focussed on the City of London Corporation and City of London Police achieving White Ribbon status. It was agreed that the Town Clerk would liaise with the Commissioner and relevant colleagues to ensure that the Force, if not the whole Corporation, achieves this accredited status ahead of White Ribbon Day (25 November).

With regard to Active Bystander Training, it was explained that the programme would be rolled out more widely from October 2023 onwards.

It was suggested that the City of London Police engage with Staff Resource/Networking Groups of businesses within the Square Mile through the City Belonging Project.

Violence Against Women and Girls remained a Strategic Policing Priority. The Safer City Partnership and Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee would look at this in coming days.

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding an update on the HMICFRS Inspection, concerning vetting, misconduct, and misogyny in the police and City of London Police Counter Corruption and Vetting.

The Commissioner confirmed there was no risk of missing deadlines on areas listed for improvement.

The Chair of Professional Standards and Integrity Committee briefly highlighted the discussion had on this report at its recent meeting. He concurred with the Commissioner and was satisfied the deadlines would be met. A question was raised about how best to present this data via some form of dashboard. There was also a need to consider resourcing around vetting.

The Commissioner agreed that resourcing in vetting was a challenge, but the recent uplift in the Force had provided a greater understanding of the real demand. There were pressures within the National Agency Vetting that the City of London Police was not responsible for.

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding the City of London Police’s Mental Health Response. The following matters were raised in discussion:

• Members requested an update on Mental Health Triage.
• A Member highlighted the City Wellbeing Centre on Middlesex Street, where individuals could pay as much as they could afford (i.e. no fixed fee) for mental health services.
• Members suggested that the Police needed to involve schools within their partnerships.
• Members asked what does the City of London do and what could it do for those people employed by a City of London business, but are working at home, elsewhere in the country?

The Commissioner explained that the Force was taking the National Right Care, Right Person approach and adopting national best practice. Significant efforts were going into partnership building and this was feeding into the Safer City Partnership.

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members received a report of the Commissioner concerning the Quarter 1 revenue and capital monitoring update for the 2023/24 financial year.

Whilst the recent 7% National Pay award was welcomed by the Board, it did generate pressures elsewhere.

The Chair reflected on City of London being disproportionately disadvantaged by core grant from the Government, that was based on the number of local policing officers, rather than National Lead Force officers. The Chair had written to the Home Office on the matter. It was unlikely to get back dated but it was hoped that a change would be included for future years.

Whilst current reserves seemed disproportionately high, it was likely that further consideration would be given to using this toward balancing loans from the City of London Corporation. The Chamberlain was supportive of this approach.

Confidence in the forecasting procedures had grown as a result of improved control over financing procedures and increased discipline. 

The realignment of the budgeting process was caused by significant grant allocations being announced within the financial year.

In the next report, further information and analysis would be provided on mitigations and cost recovery for funded work.

Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) funding was currently uncharacteristically high following a huge receipt as a result of Operation Neutron (£6-7m). This would be spent slowly on appropriate projects as expenditure will be greater than intake in coming years. POCA should not be used to fund core functions. Whilst asset recovery for POCA use was a focus for the Force, support for victims and the repatriation of their funds remained a priority.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Report of the Commissioner.

To be read in conjunction with Non-Public Appendices at Item 29.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding a regular risk register update. Questions were raised on the following areas:

• Following recent personal data breaches in other Forces, assurances were sought on whether this risk had been appropriately mitigated for City Police.
• Having reviewed the risks for the delivery of the Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting and Analysis Service, the risk was not as binary as it presents. The concern was not that the Service would be delivered or not, but rather whether it would be delivered on time, with the expected capabilities, within budget.
• What actions, if any, were required for risks that appear red-rated, even after mitigations.

In discussing the above, the Board agreed that there were always going to be some risks that remained red despite all mitigations. There was, however, a question as to whether the generic Corporation risk template was appropriate for the Police and whether a more tailored or different approach should be used to better reflect the nature and probability of certain risks.

With regard to data security, there had been no attacks of this nature on the City of London Police. In regard to Freedom of Information Requests specifically, a second layer of assurance had been built into the process to ensure total preventability. A new Digital Data Technology Committee had been established within the Force and an update on this would be going to the next Resource Risk and Estates Committee.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Report of the Remembrancer.

Members received a report of the Remembrancer regarding the National Security Act 2023.

It was suggested that the City of London Corporation was naïve to the risks of potential foreign interest. Examples of inappropriate, clearly fraudulent, social media connections were cited.

The Town Clerk committed to work with the Authority Team and Security experts within the organisation to take this forward.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

MOTION - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

The Chair to be heard.

There was no update.

12.55 - Pursuant to Standing Order 40, the Board agreed to extend the meeting until such at time that the business on the agenda had been considered and concluded.

The Commissioner & Chief Officers to be heard.

Members received a verbal update of the Commissioner.

Joint report of the Executive Director of Environment and the Commissioner.

Members considered a Joint Report of the Commissioner and Executive Director Environment, regarding the Secure City Programme.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members considered a report of the Commissioner regarding the NPCC Cybercrime Programme National Framework Agreement for the Provision of Cryptocurrency Storage and Realisation Services and extension of contract term.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding progress of the Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting and Analysis Service procurement programme.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding progress of the Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting and Analysis Service procurement IBM Service Contract Extension Option.

Report of the City Surveyor.

Members received a report of the City Surveyor regarding proposals for development at Middlesex Street Car Park.

Report of the City Surveyor.

Members received a report of the City Surveyor regarding a RIBA Stage 5 update on the Salisbury Square Development.

To be read in conjunction with the public report at Item 16.

Members received the non public appendix to the Risk Register update at Item 16.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

At this point in the meeting, all officers except those from the Force and Authority Team, departed the meeting.

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2023.

RESOLVED, that the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2023, be approved as an accurate record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk regarding actions taken between meetings under urgency procedures.