Agenda item

Report of the Commissioner.

Members agreed to vary the order of items on the agenda so that the update report of the Commissioner regarding HMICFRS Inspection(s) was considered next. The following points were made.

·         The Head of Strategic Planning noted that there were 23 Green responses to HMICFRS inspection reports, and five Red responses which included the following:

o   Timetable for implementing the revised Know Fraud system to be published. A letter addressing this recommendation would be sent to all Forces in late November/early December.

o   Policy for responding to and investigating allegations of fraud to be published. A draft policy was currently being reviewed and external communications were planned once it had been signed off.

o   Guidance to be provided to Action Fraud and Chief Constables to ensure victims receive adequate explanations regarding the role of Action Fraud etc. The ‘ownership’ on implementing this recommendation had recently changed, which had delayed its resolution from September 2019 to December 2019.

o   Detainee care should be improved to ensure access to fresh air and exercise. This recommendation had arisen out of a lack of adequate provision at Bishopsgate Police Station. The Commander (Operations) explained that options for the site had been costed, and that issues over security and dignity of prisoners needed to be considered given that the Station was overlooked by surrounding properties.

o   Home Office cyber-enabled flag for hate crime to be consistently applied. The Head of Strategic Planning noted that the Force was now using the flag, but that officers wished to complete a demonstration period to ensure the flag was being used effectively before classing the recommendation ‘Green’.

·         The Commander (Operations) noted that he was confident the Amber recommendation(s) around police custody would be classed as Green following a constructive meeting he had had with the Custody Management Team.

·         In response to a question regarding Action Know Fraud, the Head of Strategic Planning noted that the backlog of cases had now been reduced from 6,500 down to 500.

·         In response to a question regarding the planned investment for exercise space at Bishopsgate Police Station, the Commander (Operations) noted that this would be a six-figure investment, but the project was not yet at a design or procurement stage.

RESOLVED, that the report be received.