Agenda item

Report of the Commissioner (copy attached).

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner summarising the Force’s performance against the National Lead Force Key Performance Area framework and supporting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the first quarter of 2012-13.

The Assistant Commissioner prefaced the report by explaining that this sort of performance measuring system was historically uncommon in the particular field and so the Force were seeking to introduce and develop something that clearly explained how various figures were obtained. Accordingly, he sought Members views as to whether or not the KPIs presented in this document were both appropriate and effective, and where any improvements could be made.

A Member made reference to KPI 3.4, which he felt was of particular importance, observing that two key elements needed to be included. He advised that it would be important for the measure to also include the opening and closing figures of those cases awaiting trial, as well as the figures for acquittals and discontinuances, in order to be able to gain a fuller picture of the whole pool of cases being dealt with. For instance, at present the KPI showed that last year 141 individuals were convicted and 49 had entered guilty pleas, but there was no indication as to how many were not convicted or were still awaiting trial, making a full and accurate assessment of the position difficult. The Chairman supported the Member’s comments, adding that presenting the sentence lengths in a different way, rather than through an aggregate as at present, would be useful as currently it was impossible to distinguish what sort of cases were being dealt with and where the crimes were of a particularly significant scale.

Another Member agreed that the inclusion of baseline numbers was needed as many cases took years to conclude, so a running total would be invaluable. Further, listing the number of cases which were being submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and their outcomes would also be useful, so that were a significant proportion of cases being rejected by the CPS it would highlight that there was an issue that needed addressing. The Chief Superintendent of the ECD advised that a form had recently been introduced which provided the Force with a qualitative assessment showing whether or not the CPS’ decision not to proceed with a case was based on a quality of evidence issue or due to the public interest test, so that this could indeed be tracked and evidenced as suggested.

It was also suggested that those cases where the investigation was taken over by Serious Fraud Office but where the City Police were still assisting should be listed in some way, with some sort of method or feedback system devised to enable the Force to demonstrate their participation in such joint investments. The Chairman commented on the importance of demonstrating this, suggesting that is would be worth looking at introducing a KPI for joint investment as part of the National Lead Force role, to better demonstrate the Force’s national value.

With regard to the survey, a Member advised that it would be sensible to list sample sizes so that when results such as 25% or 50% were obtained it demonstrated that these were not merely due to a small sample size. He stressed that it was also important to use surveys to drive a culture, rather than just as a tool to show how well the Force were doing, and to be careful that the questions being asked in surveys were pertinent to the people they were being asked to so that responses obtained were of use.

RECEIVED.