Agenda item

Report of the Commissioner, City of London Police.

This Sub Committee received a report of the Commissioner, City of London Police in respect of supporting and safeguarding vulnerable people.  The

provided an oversight of strategic governance, current and future demand and collaboration taking place across the following vulnerability strands:

A. Domestic Abuse (including Honour based abuse and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM))

B. Sexual Violence

C. Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Protection

D. Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking

E. Hate Crime

1.     When domestic abuse cases are reported directly to the Police and not via a third party agency, as was the case during the pandemic, this can distort the data.  The City of London Police (CoLP) are committed to pro-active engagement with the third sector to get a truer representation across all areas of vulnerability.

2.     The COLP are committed to joint working and a whole systems approach, evidenced by a good conversion rate from charging to prosecutions, even if the victim cannot support the prosecution.    A self-audit was underway in respect of improving prosecution levels and the journey for victims of sexual offences.    Victim support also conduct victim surveys.

3.     The CoLP also have a good track record for prosecutions for stalking and harassment.   As coercive behaviour can be very difficult to spot, all officers receive mandatory training. 

4.     Public Protection Notices (PPN1) forms are submitted when an officer or staff member attending a call, or dealing with a crime, identifies any degree of vulnerability with a child. The form is risk assessed and passed to the relevant agency for action. Due to the demographics in the City, the forms are often completed for children who are non-residents, before being transferred to the relevant local authority for action.

5.     There is evidence of increasing vulnerability in society but conversions to actual suicides remain low, evidenced by joint work in crisis management and interventions at an earlier stage. Post incident management procedures follow, which might also warrant a Serious Case Review at the Adult Safeguarding Board.  Whilst an individual’s borough of residence is key in a review, there is cross-borough and partnership working.   The Chair asked if the next report to the Sub Committee could include data on mental health and suicide, noting that this would need to be in the non-public part of the meeting.

6.     Data in the report in respect of hate crime pre-dated the current Gaza conflict.  There has been a small rise in anti-semitism and islamophobia, which is being monitored and reported to the Police Authority Board.   Community tensions are also monitored.

The Chair thanked the Police for attending this meeting, noting that there would be a police presence at all future Safeguarding Sub Committee meetings.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.