Grant funding - National Policing Data Communications Group Futures

The Metropolitan Police Service has received grant funding from the Home Office (HO) for the National Policing Data Communications Group Futures Group since 2007.

This funding has previously been formalised under an umbrella grant agreement between the HO and MOPAC for the Communications Capabilities Development Programme (CCD).

However, in 2018 the HO and the MOPAC signed a separate grant agreement covering the funding of the CD Delivery and National Communications Delivery Service, which expires on 31 March 2020, and HO have now issued a new grant agreement to formalise the funding of the DCG Futures Group for the next financial year.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is asked to approve the continuation of HO grant funding for the National Policing Data Communications Group Futures Group.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to approve the continuation of £1,018,000 of grant funding from the Home Office for the National Policing Data Communications Group Futures Group for the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. The National Policing Data Communications Group (DCG) Futures Group is a sub-group of the National Policing DCG. The group was formed to address the challenges that an increasingly sophisticated and ever-changing communications environment poses for the National Law Enforcement community. The group is concerned with an improved understanding of existing technologies and exploring the impact of new technology and services on investigators.



1.2. The Home Office (HO) have funded the DCG Futures Group since 2007. This funding was originally formalised under a series of umbrella grant agreements between the HO and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) for the Communications Capabilities Development (CCD) Programme. However, in 2018 the HO and the MOPAC signed a separate grant agreement covering the funding of the CD Delivery and National Communications Delivery Service, which expires on 31 March 2020, and HO have now issued a new grant agreement to formalise the funding of the DCG Futures Group for the next financial year.

1.3. The grant of £1,018,000 funds staff and resource costs, maintaining and improving existing capability, new capability, research and development and communications and training.

1.4. DCG Futures work with all UK law enforcement and industry partners on new and emerging communications technology. The findings directly result in the development/delivery of tools and products to assist investigators. Training programmes are developed and delivered for first responders through to senior officers and criminal justice partners.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. DCG Futures are leading and supporting a number of national projects, which are scheduled for completion during 2020 / 21. The projects assist across a wide variety of policing roles which directly impact on the prevent, protect and pursue strategy.

2.2. The MPS acquires more Communications Data than any other Law Enforcement Agency in the UK. However, the use of Communications Data by Law Enforcement and Public Authorities has undergone significant legal challenges in recent years. The Investigatory Powers Act has transformed how the MPS authorises, acquires, stores and retains Communications Data. New legislation, application forms, authorisation processes, training and CD workflows each bring about new challenges.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. All the cost shown for the DCG Futures Group will be recovered from the HO under a new grant agreement between HO and MOPAC. These costs were previously recovered from the HO under a separate grant agreement, which also covered CD Delivery.

3.2. The Home Office have confirmed that grant funding is available for the DCG Futures Group for the next year. There are no financial risks to the MPS.

3.3. The DCG Futures Group are an integral part of the new National Communications Data and Legal Interception (CDLI) Partnership. There are plans for the Partnership staff and services to be permanently funded from March 2021 through the HO, who are part of the partnership. The long-term discussions will also explore the physical location of the staff, which subject to agreement would have the futures group remain within the MPS.

3.4. A summary of the breakdown of the grant funding of the DCG Futures Group is shown in the table below:-

The funding has been included in the 2020/21 A1A2652 budget.

Category Amount (£)

Staff/resource costs (4 x police Staff, 1 x Contractor) 373,000

Travel and subsistence 35,000

New capability 130,000

Maintaining and improving existing capability 135,000

Research and development 220,000

Communications and training 125,000

Total 1,018,000

4. Legal Comments

4.1. These grants will be paid to the MOPAC in exercise of the power conferred upon the Secretary of State for the Home Department under Section 57 of the Police Act 1996. The Secretary of State may provide and maintain, or may contribute to the provision or maintenance of, such organisations, facilities and services as he considers necessary or expedient for promoting the efficiency or effectiveness of the police.

4.2. This report seeks MOPAC approval for the continuation of grant funding for DCG Futures

4.3. Para 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Consent and Delegation provides the DMPC with delegated powers to accept any offer of grant funding.

4.4. The grant agreement will be published under the Elected Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2011.

5. GDPR and Data Privacy

5.1. A Privacy Impact Screening Questionnaire has been completed for DCG Futures and assessment which has determined that an Information Sharing Agreement is not required.

5.2. The MPS is subject to the requirements and conditions placed on it as a 'State' body to comply with the European Convention of Human Rights and the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018. Both legislative requirements place an obligation on the MPS to process personal data fairly and lawfully in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals.

5.3. Under Article 35 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Section 57 of the DPA 2018, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) become mandatory for organisations with technologies and processes that are likely to result in a high risk to the rights of the data subjects.

5.4. The Information Assurance and Information Rights units within MPS will be consulted at all stages to ensure the programme project meets its compliance requirements.

5.5. As the programme does not use personally identifiable data of members of the public, there are no GDPR issues to be considered.

6. Equality Comments

6.1. As this is an extension of an existing service this work does not change any aspects relating to equality or diversity. No diversity or equality issues have been raised by the DCG Futures Lead or CDLI Partnership.

6.2. DCG training events utilise professional event teams and ensure disability related issues are addressed during registration and at events. The tools and products developed or identified are integrated into Home Office systems where compliance with UK legislation is the responsibility of their programme teams.

7. Background/supporting papers

7.1. MPS Report.