Notes of the Complaints and Professional Standards ... - Essex Police

Meeting: Performance Committee
Date: 30 April 2012
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AGENDA ITEM 7
EPA/63/12
NOTES OF THE COMPLAINTS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS PANEL
HELD ON 24 FEBRUARY 2012
Report by: Acting Chief Executive
Contact: Claire Morrison – Committee Administrator
1. Purpose of report
1.1 To inform Members of discussions at the Complaints and Professional
Standards Panel held on 24 February 2012.
2. Recommendation
That the committee note the report.

ESSEX POLICE AUTHORITY NOTE OF A MEETING OF THE
COMPLAINTS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS PANEL HELD AT
EPA OFFICES, HOFFMANNS WAY CHELMSFORD, ON FRIDAY 24
FEBRUARY 2012
The meeting commenced at 09:00 am.
Membership/Attendance
* P Bishop (Chairman) * Mrs S Hughes
R Boyce * J Schofield
* C Cochrane * Mrs M Fisher
* Present
Officers in Attendance
S Robinson (Professional Standards)
A Hunt – Force Solicitor
ACC Beautridge – Serious Crime Directorate
Ms T Mcgrath - Serious Crime Directorate
EPA Chief Executive’s Office
G Furnival – Head of Business Management & Governance
Mrs H Richardson – Operating Manager
Mrs C Morrison - Committee Administrator – Notes
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
There were two apologies from R Boyce and DCC Benson.
2. NOTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The note of the meeting of the Complaints & Professional Standards
Panel held on 9 December 2011 was agreed as a correct record.
3. UPDATE ON THE FORMATION OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION UNIT
The Panel received a presentation from ACC Beautridge providing an
update on the formation of the Kent and Essex Anti-corruption Unit.
ACTION: ACC Beautridge to report back to the Panel on the
different standards of discipline applied to Kent and Essex
Officers and Staff.
4. QUARTERLY REPORT- COMPLAINTS, MISCONDUCT & OTHER
MATTERS
The Panel received a report by the Chief Constable outlining data and
background to the Complaints, Misconduct and Other Matters that had
been processed by the Professional Standards Department (PSD) in
the last quarter 1 October to 31 December 2011.
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The quarterly report was set out in sections as shown below.
Superintendent Steve Robinson amplified the report orally.
1) Significant/High Profile Complaint and Conduct Cases
CM/77/11 Circumstances – IPCC Independent Investigation
The Police Officer involved has been charged with dangerous driving
and is due to appear at Ipswich Magistrates Court on 20 th March 2012.
MI/148/11 Circumstances – IPCC Independent Investigation
The IPCC submitted their final report to Essex Police on 3 rd February
2012, which will not be released until after the trial on 24 th April 2012.
MI/202/11 Circumstances – IPCC Independent Investigation
The IPCC investigation is ongoing. The trial is due to be held on 6 th
July 2012.
CM/32/11 Circumstances
The IPCC investigation is ongoing.
CM/70/10 Circumstances
A Gross Misconduct Hearing is scheduled for 25 April 2012.
CM/664/10 Circumstances
The IPPC investigation has concluded and they have made the
decision
to re-submit the case to the CPS; a prosecution decision is awaited.
C/695/07 Lee Balkwell – Circumstances
The IPCC report was published on 30 January 2012. DCC Benson is
due to meet Mr Balkwell on 5 th March 2012.
Misc /323/08- Circumstances
The IPPC re- investigation is ongoing.
2) Suspended and Restricted Officers and Police Staff
9 members of police staff are currently suspended; 11 officers are
subject to restrictions of duty.
ACTIONS:
SR to report back to SH and PB on the length of time taken to deal
with suspended officers and staff
Further information regarding suspended officers and staff to be
included in future reports.
3) Cases referred to the IPCC
It was reported that there were 5 mandatory and 1 voluntary referral
during the quarter. Further details of referrals were set out in the report.
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4) Appeals made to the IPCC
There were 49 appeals made to the IPCC during the quarter. 46
against full investigation, 1 against LR process and 4 against non
recording. Although numbers had increased there were no reported
trends.
5) Table of complaints received by Home Office Code
The Panel were informed that during the quarter 397 complaints were
recorded.
6) Eastern Region Comparison Charts
These were set out in two tables showing the number of complaints
and cases recorded in the Eastern region during the quarter.
ACTION: SR to confirm why figures are not available for
Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire in the Eastern Region
Comparison Charts
7) Most Similar Force Comparison
The Panel were presented with complaint figures for Essex and the
other forces categorised as being the most similar for the period 1 st
April to 31 st December 2011.
8) Divisional/Departmental Analysis of complaints
This contained a detailed analysis of complaints in each division
including those relating to two main areas of concern, incivility and
failure in duty.
Members were informed that future reports would be broken down by
area of command rather than by division. It was agreed that SR would
circulate the new areas of command to all Members.
ACTIONS:
SR to circulate the new areas of command to Members
SH to discuss the Panels concerns regarding the increase in
allegations of incivility with the new Area Investigations Team and
put together an action plan to reduce complaints in this area.
9) Discriminatory Behaviour Complaints recorded this Quarter
This illustrated a breakdown of the number of complaints for each
division related to discriminatory behaviour.
10) Live Complaint Investigations over PSD target of 90 days – The IPCC
Target is 120 days
It was reported that the department currently have no cases
overrunning the target.
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11) Activities of the Anti-Corruption Intelligence Unit (ACIU)
This illustrated a breakdown of intelligence reported to ACIU during the
periods 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12.
12) Essex update – Stop and Search
A total of 803 Stop and Accounts were recorded during the period
compared to 22,269 for the same quarter of the previous year. The
vast reduction reflects the force decision to cease recording Stop and
Account, due to the changes to PACE A and the future recording
requirements of Stop and Account.
13) Commendations/Letters of Appreciation
During the period there were 30 letters of appreciation received from
members of the public. 1 Commendation and 55 letters of
congratulations were published during this quarter.
ACTION: The Panel to receive further information regarding
commendations previously reported in December 2011 and to be
informed of any exceptional cases where a commendation is
awarded in the future.
Any other matters:
Members requested further information regarding the vetting procedure
used for officers and staff on the Olympics Planning Team. It was
agreed that SR would speak to Supt Kevin Bailey regarding this matter
and report back to the Panel.
CC asked if regular updates could be given on the use of batons and
tasers,which had previously been reported to the Force Health and
Safety Committee. It was agreed that SR would look into this.
It was reported that Chief Supt Tim Stokes is carrying out a review of
the police response to an incident in Billericay involving a man and an
axe. It was agreed that the Panel would receive an update on this at
the next meeting.
Members requested that an update be given on previously reported
issues relating to the Dale Farm Eviction. It was agreed that SR would
provide an update at the next meeting.
ACTIONS:
SR to report back on level of vetting used for officers and staff on
the Olympic Planning Team
SR to report back on the use of tasers and batons
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The Panel to receive an update on the review being carried out by
Chief Supt Kevin Bailey in relation to police response to an
incident in Billericay involving a man and an axe
The Panel to receive an update on previously reported issues
relating to the Dale Farm Eviction
5. QUARTERLY REPORT OF THE CIVIL CLAIMS UNIT
The Panel noted a report by the Civil Claims Manager summarising
civil claims activity and statistical information for the period 1 st October
to 31 st December 2011.
ACTION: Members to discuss the financial liability of the three
highlighted cases and a report to be prepared for the Complaints
Panel and Finance and Audit Committee.
6. QUARTERLY REPORT: FORCE SOLICITOR
The Panel noted a report by the Force Solicitor summarising
Employment Tribunal claims ongoing claims and closed claims for the
period 1 st October to 31 st December 2011.
7. MEMBERS’ INSPECTION ROTA
It was reported that both files on PSD and Civil Claims had been
inspected by Mr Schofield and it was felt that the files needed to be reorganised
in order to make them easier for Members to inspect in
future. It was suggested that a front sheet be placed in each file with a
list of key stages of the investigation and achievement dates. SR
agreed to follow this up.
It was agreed that Mr Sugden would contact Mrs Hughes to arrange a
date to inspect the files during the next quarter. It was noted that any
member can visit PSD at any time.
ACTIONS:
Mr Sugden to arrange a date with Mrs Hughes to visit PSD and
Civil Claims to inspect the files during the next quarter
SR to ensure that the files in PSD and Civil Claims contain a list of
key stages and achievement dates in order to assist Members
when they carryout inspections
8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for Friday 18 May 2012, 9.00 am at
EPA offices, Hoffmanns Way.
9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was none.
The meeting closed at 11.10 am
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