London Crime Prevention Fund 2021/22 Commissioning Decisions

In order to provide funding certainty at this time of crisis, and realign commissioning with the postponed Mayoral election and new administration, this decision requests the extension until the end of March 2022 of the following projects and services relating to the London Crime Prevention Fund:

• Direct funding to boroughs as part of the LCPF to the value of £13,105,185

• LCPF Co-commissioning Funded Projects:

o Advance Women’s Centres

o Whole System Approach to Female Offending

o Rescue and Response

o GALOP LGBT Male Support

• Funding to the boroughs specifically for violence via the Violence Reduction Unit

The total financial commitment will be £18,443,316 in 2021/22.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:

• Approve the extension through 2021/22 of projects relating to the London Crime Prevention Fund, at a total financial commitment of £18,443,316; and

• Delegate responsibility for agreeing the specific terms relating to individual grant and, or contract extensions to the Director of Commissioning and Partnerships and for the VRU uplift funding to the Director of the VRU.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide-reaching impact on MOPAC, the MPS and commissioned services. At this time of crisis, it is more important than ever for commissioners and providers to have certainty of funding.

1.2. A large proportion of MOPAC’s commissioned services and grants are due to expire on 31st March 2021. This aligned with the original dates for the Mayoral election and production of the new Police and Crime Plan, however as a result of the pandemic the election has now been postponed until May 2021. This means that these services face a cliff-edge of funding at the end of this financial year.

1.3. Another impact of the pandemic has been to GLA budgets for 2020/21 and 2021/22. The GLA Group faces a forecast £493 million budget shortfall over the next two years as a result of an unprecedented loss of business rates and council tax income.

1.4. Based on the current ‘reasonable worst-case’ estimate, MOPAC will have to save £45.5 million in 2020/21 and then £63.8 million in 2021/22. These savings will be split between MOPAC and the MPS.

1.5. Due to these budgetary pressures, MOPAC has gone through a process of internal review to identify sources for savings, while minimising the impact on frontline services. This has included a review of all commissioned services to assess their performance, impact and value for money.

1.6. In order to realign commissioning with the postponed Mayoral election and production of the new Police and Crime Plan, this decision sets out those projects and services which are due to end in March 2021, where performance has been at least satisfactory, and requests that they be extended for a year until the end of March 2022.

1.7. In order to expedite the decision process and meet our commitment to give providers and commissioners 6 months’ notice of funding for 2021/22, the projects and services for which extension is requested have been grouped into themes. This decision relates to projects in the area of: London Crime Prevention Fund.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. All projects and services which are due to expire in March 2021 have been considered under their own merits, to ensure that they have demonstrated satisfactory performance and value for money. They have also been considered as part of MOPAC’s wider commissioning, budgets and priorities.

2.2. The projects and services below are requested for extension to the end of March 2022:

• Direct funding to boroughs – Funding allocations to boroughs are made based on a need and demand formula, to ensure that funding is directed to those areas in most need according to the data. This funding sustains a wide range of projects and services which support both the priority areas of the Police and Crime Plan and local community safety and prevention services.

• Co-commissioning Funded Projects:

- Advance Women’s Centres – The Minerva WrapAround service operates across 15 boroughs in the North, East and West regions of London, delivering in partnership with 8 voluntary sector organisations. It provides access to women centres, hubs and one to one and group support that addresses needs relating to mental health, substance misuse, physical health and well-being, domestic abuse, parenting skills, employability, financial management, accessing appropriate accommodation and tenancy sustainment. During 2019/20 key outputs achieved were: 523 women engaged in 121 support; 2,196 accessed women centre provision; 243groupwork sessions delivered; 18 raining sessions delivered to the judiciary. 94% women felt safer from violence and abuse; 92% increase in health/wellbeing; 82% increase improvement in financial management and 79% enhanced parenting skills.

- Whole System Approach to Female Offending – The South London Alliance service operates across 6 London boroughs through a Women’s Centre and Women’s hubs. This service support for up to 275 women offenders per year with 1-2-1 keyworkers. During 2019/20 key outputs achieved were: 377 women accessing services; 126 engaged with 121 support with keyworkers; 432 accessed the women’s centre provisions and services;21 peer mentors were trained; 71% of women felt safer from domestic violence/abuse; 61% enhanced parenting skills; 58% improvement in health and wellbeing and 53% in improved financial management.

- Rescue and Response – This innovative approach was devised by four leading London boroughs to provide a pan London service to support victims of exploitation by county line drug networks. The service offers support for young Londoners exploited outside of the capital by drug networks. Intelligence is gathered and analysed to understand the factors behind exploitation, to inform the police, and to upskill professionals on the signs of exploitation so that interventions can be made at an earlier stage. In the two years of operating, the service has seen 69% of referrals receive positive outcomes, and a 60% reduction in county lines activity. The rescue element of the service had never been done before on this large a scale.

- GALOP – This project supports LGBT+ and male victims who are often unwilling and/or unable to access mainstream provision for sexual violence in London. They deliver tailored support through building reciprocal links with organisations like Black Out (a network run by and for black gay men), Opening Doors London (with older LGBT+ people) and Gendered Intelligence (younger trans and non-binary people). They also seek to develop strategic approaches to implement in the sector around these specific cohorts. The service has seen 93% of clients feel better able to cope, 100% referred on if needed and 93% feeling supported to go through CJS process regardless of the outcome.

• VRU uplift funding – Funding allocations to boroughs are made based on tiers which are determined through data on violence and other related needs. This funding delivers projects and services which directly support the local Violence Reduction Action Plans and address strategic outcomes at a local level.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. This decision requests approval to extend the contracts or grants delivered by the current providers, at a total financial commitment of £18,443,316 from 1st April 2021 until 31st March 2022. An overview of the individual allocations and their funding source is set out in the table below.

3.2. This expenditure plan is budgeted from PPAF, Police Grant Core Budget, Mayoral Growth and VRU core budget, as outlined above.

3.3 Payments will be made in line with current arrangements in the grant, following satisfactory performance and contract or grant management meetings, where applicable.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. MOPAC’s general powers are set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). Section 3(6) of the 2011 Act provides that MOPAC must “secure the maintenance of the metropolitan police service and secure that the metropolitan police service is efficient and effective.” Under Schedule 3, paragraph 7 (1) MOPAC has wide incidental powers to “do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of the Office.” Paragraph 7(2) (a) provides that this includes entering into contracts and other agreements.

4.2. Section 143 (1) (b) of the Anti-Social, Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides for MOPAC to provide or commission services “intended by the local policing body to victims or witnesses of or other persons affected by, offences and anti-social behaviour.” Section 143 (3) specifically allows MOPAC to make grants in connection with such arrangements and any grant may be made subject to any conditions that MOPAC thinks appropriate.

4.3. There are further relevant powers set out in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 at sections 17(1) (a) to (c) which place MOPAC under a duty to exercise its functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on, and the need to do all it can to prevent, crime and disorder (including anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment), reoffending in its area, and the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances in its area. The proposed arrangements are consistent with MOPAC’s duties in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

4.4. Under MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation, the approval of business cases for revenue or capital expenditure of £500,000 and above, are for the DMPC. The strategy for grant giving, the award of individual grants, all offers made and the award of grant funding are also for the DMPC. The decisions in this report can be approved by the DMPC.

4.5. Officers must ensure the Financial Regulations and Contract Regulations are complied with.

4.6. Officers should ensure that the funding agreements are put in place with and executed by MOPAC and each of the providers before any commitment to fund is made.

5. Commercial Issues

5.1 This decision requests to extend existing grants and contracts, as laid out in 3.1

5.1. Discussions are currently ongoing with the Ministry of Justice about opportunities to co-commission or align arrangements for female offender services in 2021/22 as part of the probation reform process. This is yet to be finalised, but this could mean additional funding is received by MOPAC to increase the scope and coverage of female offender services with a revised specification. This would be subject to a further formal decision process and will depend on the final joint co-commissioning decisions on the best way to extend female offender services during 2021/22.

5.2. There are no procurement issues with this decision, as all arrangements are by grant. In line with contract regulations however, the value of these grants is not being increased by more than 50% of the current total value.

5.3. MOPAC makes no commitment to fund the projects and services outlined in 3.1 until grant or contract variation letters have been signed by both parties. These will detail the new performance and payment schedules, in line with previous arrangements.

5.4. Projects and services will be subject to long-term decisions and possible recommissioning during 2021/22.

6. Public Health Approach

6.1. The funding streams above support projects and services spanning a wide range of policy areas, including significant focus on reducing and preventing violence. The VRU uplift funding in particular aligns local delivery with the aims and objectives of the VRU.

7. GDPR and Data Privacy

7.1. The extension of the projects and services listed in 3.1 will not alter the data protection measures in place for each. Where required, DPIAs will be updated to reflect the extension of the corresponding project or service.

8. Equality Comments

8.1. Under s149 of the Equality Act 2010 (the Equality Act), as a public authority the Deputy Mayor/MOPAC must have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and any conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act; and to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Protected characteristics under the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and marriage or civil partnership status (the duty in respect of this last characteristic is to eliminate unlawful discrimination only).

8.2. The extension of these projects and services will ensure that, at this time of crisis, vulnerable Londoners do not face a reduction in support.

8.3. The providers of the projects and services listed above will be required to have due regard to the protected characteristics of the people and communities relevant to this piece of work.