PCD 1313 MPS Ctrbn to NABIS Ballistics

PCD 1313 MPS Ctrbn to NABIS Ballistics

This paper seeks approval for the continued membership of the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS), hosted by West Midlands Police, and associated release of funds to cover the period 2022/23 to 2024/25 in respect of NABIS services (£196,896 per annum) and the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) warranties (£81,426.50 per annum). These national collaborations enable the  understanding of gun crime in the UK and tackling armed criminality in London.  The total 3-year value is £834,967.50.  These costs will be met from within existing Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) budgets.   

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve the renewal of existing MPS membership via an S22 Collaboration agreement of the NABIS service to cover the period 2022/23 to 2024/25. 

2. Approve the funding of MPS membership to national NABIS services at a revenue cost of £834,967.50 for three years, 2022/23 to 2024/25, to be funded from existing revenue budgets.  

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. NaBIS (National Ballistics Intelligence Service) is the UK Ballistic Intelligence Service. It provides fast time, ballistic intelligence for forces across the UK as well as tactical and strategic intelligence to tackle all aspects of firearms related criminality within the UK. It enables forces to identify how firearms move from location to location within their forces but also across force boundaries 

2. Issues for consideration 

1. NaBIS, in collaboration with the national Crime Agency (NCA), co-ordinate and circulate national and regional firearms threat assessments which identify key trends and focus in relation to the use and supply of firearms. NaBIS also commission academic research for improved understanding and provide a more robust and defendable evidence base in relation to gun crime.  

2. Given the current political climate of a rise in national gun crime, threat from international supply and organised crime/terrorism touchpoints, the MPS need to remain within the NaBIS agreement.  

3. The product that NaBIS provides, aligned to the work of individual forces, is critical to the understanding of gun crime in the UK and within each force. It gives a clear understanding of the level of threat posed by firearms that are available to criminals and works with police forces, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and other partners to pro-actively target resources against the greatest threats.  The NaBIS intelligence database provides a national picture of firearm usage, seizure and trends 

4. In February 2022, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) agreed to support the funding cycle for NaBIS over the period 2022/23 to 2024/25.  Individual force level funding is now based on an assessment of their levels of gun crime and, therefore, the use of their service. NaBIS offers forensic examination of weapons and ammunitions, providing the necessary evidence to support investigations and to harvest strategic intelligence on the nature and scale of the firearms threat across the UK.  

5. The two elements of the service include 

• £196,896 – annual subscription allowing access to the NABIS database, including analysis, intelligence and performance reporting products.  A dedicated national force liaison service to work with forces to improve force, regional and national ability to tackle the Criminal Use of Firearms. A firearms tracing service to establish the origins supply routes and source countries into the UK. Support and training for the National NABIS database for forces to record and research the recovery loss and theft of firearms and ammunition associated intelligence.  NPCC Criminal Use of Firearms (CUF) governance coordination and leading on national CUF 4P Plan. Representation of the NABIS model at European and International forums. Dedicated Intelligence resource (1 FTE) to embedded within MPS Met Intelligence. Negotiation and procurement of national IBIS warranty and upgrade agreements. 

• £81,426.50 – Annual warranty/licence payment for the IBIS (Integrated Ballistic Imaging system) software 

3. Financial Comments  

1. The costs for the previous financial year (21/22) was £100,000 for NaBIS and £77,000 for IBIS. The increase in NaBIS cost is due to a change in the funding formula for each Police Force’s contribution. The MPS previously paid a flat fee of £100k agreed in 2008. The new formula means all Police Force’s contributions are now based on usage.   

2. The full 3-year value of the MPS’s proposed contribution to NABIS and IBIS is £834,967.50. NABIS services £196,896.00 per annum and the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) warranties are £81,426.50 per annum.  

3. These costs will be funded by existing revenue budgets in MPS Forensics. 

4. Legal Comments 

1. The MPS assure that MOPAC can enter into a policing body collaboration agreement under s.22A(1) of the Police Act 1996. 

2. Paragraph 4.5 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (“DMPC”) has delegated authority to approve collaboration agreements under s22 Police Act 1996 where the approval of MOPAC is required by that Act. 

3. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve business cases for revenue or capital expenditure of £500,000 or above. 

5. Commercial Issues  

1. All commercial arrangements with external suppliers are procured by West Midlands Police who host NABIS. Therefore decisions associated with the procurement route(s), ensuring value for money and any contractual terms rest with West Midlands Police. 

6. GDPR and Data Privacy  

1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

2. The MPS assure that the project does not use personally identifiable data of members of the public, so there are no GDPR issues to be considered. 

7. Equality Comments    

8. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

9. The MPS assure that this proposal refers to the renewal of an existing function and that there are no equality or diversity issues. 

8. Background/supporting papers 

• Appendix 1 MPS Report - MPS Funding Contribution to the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NaBIS) and Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS)