PCD 1553 Criminal Exhibits Stores - Security Enhancements Decision Paper

PCD 1553 Criminal Exhibits Stores - Security Enhancements Decision Paper

This paper seeks approval to invest upto £1,500,000 in enhancing the security of criminal exhibit stores. The cost will be funded from the existing approved capital programme. 

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. approve that up to £1,500,000 of forward works budget from the approved capital plan is spent to enhance the security of Criminal Exhibit Stores 

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

1. Introduction and background  

1. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) were commissioned by the Home Secretary to inspect the MPS under section 54(2B) of the Police Act 1996 in light of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report.   The HMICFRS report was published in March 2022. 

2. Among a number of recommendations the HMICFRS stated that by 31 March 2023 the MPS should make adequate provision for the effective storage of property and exhibits, including the provision of sufficient capacity and robust security (including for firearms and other high-risk items);  

2. Issues for consideration 

1. The MPS has 31 criminal exhibit and overflow stores, 11 transit stores (within which exhibits are stored temporarily), and 8 specialist crime stores – in total 50 stores. 

2. Fifteen sites have been classified as highest priority and works within the MPS delegated authority are progressing. These were completed by 31 October as agreed with HMICFRS. 

3. The additional works across all 50 sites is expected to cost upto £1,500,000 in total, with none of the individual sites requiring investment of more than £50,000. 

4. The works involved are to ensure a consistent and comprehensive security overlay is provided, including access control, CCTV and alarms. 

5. By improving and securing the exhibits handling process and the chain of custody, these works also directly support the Crime Fighting initiative that is a key part of the response to the Casey Report.  These works are proceeding in parallel with a programme of upgrades and improvements to fridge and freezers and to the exhibits management process and HMICFRS are fully sighted on the progress of these changes.  

3. Financial Comments  

1. The estimated cost is upto £1,500,000. This will be funded from the approved capital budget for forward works.   

2. The MPS assure that there are no revenue implications arising from this investment. 

4. Legal Comments 

1. The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (“MOPAC”) is a contracting authority as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”). All awards of, and modifications to, public contracts for goods and/or services valued at £213,477 or above shall be procured in accordance with the Regulations. All awards of, and modifications to, public contracts for works valued at £5,336,937 or above shall be procured in accordance with the Regulations. 

2. The use of a compliantly procured Framework Agreement will constitute a compliant process where the Framework Agreement’s ordering processes are followed. On the basis that this is done then MPS Legal assure that the requested services and works will be procured compliantly. 

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. 

4. Paragraphs 7.23 and 7.24 of the Scheme provide respectively that the Director of Strategic Procurement has consent for the approval of the award and variation of all contracts, with the exception of those called in through the agreed call in procedure. Paragraph 4.14 of the Scheme provides the DMPC reserves the right to call in any MPS proposal to award a contract for £500,000 or above and all variations and extensions to contracts with an original value of £500,000 or above. 

5. Commercial Issues  

1. The works involved include access control, CCTV and alarms.  They will be procured via existing MOPAC-approved frameworks. 

2. The MPS assure that as part of their appointment onto the MPS frameworks, the delivery partners the MPS have used to deliver this project have committed to take specific actions to address the objectives of the London Anchor Institution Charter (LAIC).  As part of the Framework Management approach, the linkage between individual appointments and actions taken and the effectiveness of those actions in delivering the above commitments will be reviewed and assessed. The contracts will encourage the use of London supply chain specific initiatives including: apprenticeship levies; adherence to modern slavery and London Living Wage obligations; social value impact opportunities. 

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 project does not use personally identifiable data of members of the public, so there are no GDPR issues to be considered, and that under the requirements of the Surveillance Commissioners Code for CCTV, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) will be required for any adaptations/amendments undertaken on the MPS estate CCTV system. These assessments are well understood and are part of the contractual delivery of any CCTV works.  

3. MPS assure that all installations under this programme will comply with the latest Home Office guidance on countries of origin. 

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 the proposed works have undergone an initial equality screening, and that as a result, no positive or negative impact has been identified to any individual and/or group safeguarded by a protected characteristic and those who are not.  

8. Background/supporting papers 

• Appendix 1 MPS Report - Criminal Exhibit Stores – security enhancements