MPS Funding Contribution to NABIS

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.

This Business Justification concerns MOPAC approval for the renewal of MPS membership of NaBIS, hosted by West Midlands Police via Section 22 collaboration agreement, and associated release of funds to cover the period 2021/22 in respect of NABIS services (£100K per annum) and the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) warranties (£77,139.00 per annum). The total value is £177,139.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:

1. Approve the renewal of existing MPS membership via an S22 Collaboration agreement for NABIS (National Ballistics Intelligence Service) to cover the period 2021/22.

2. Approve the expenditure of £177,139 for MPS membership to NABIS and annual warranty of IBIS (Integrated Ballistic Identification System) for the financial year 2021/22 to be funded from existing revenue budgets.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. 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.

1.2. 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.

1.3. Delivery of NABIS services operates through a collaboration agreement under s22A Police Act, which enables the framework in which NaBIS can continue to operate and receive funding from forces. The NaBIS s22 Collaboration Agreement is an agreement to ensure collaborative and co-ordinated policing activity can take place. For this purpose, the parties, supported by the Home Secretary, have agreed to deliver national services for NaBIS, set out in the agreement and associated Memorandum of Understanding. The objectives of the collaboration agreement define the functions and responsibilities of NaBIS and the Memorandum of Understanding delivered by the parties within the agreement.

1.4. In January 2019, the Chiefs Council agreed to support the funding cycle for NaBIS over the period 2019-2022. Individual force level funding is 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. The MPS is in a unique position as it has its’ own Forensic Firearms Unit (FFU), who undertake these examinations on behalf of the MPS. As the MPS does not utilise the forensic examination capability of NaBIS, it sits outside of the nationally agreed funding arrangements for NaBIS and pays a separate annual fee of £177,139. The costs are detailed as follows:

• £100,000 – 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) embedded within MPS Met Intelligence. Negotiation and procurement of national IBIS warranty and upgrade agreements.

• £77,139 – Annual warranty/licence payment for the IBIS (Integrated Ballistic Imaging system) software.

1.5. The NaBIS database is the UK’s Ballistic Intelligence Service and, crucially, provides a single, national repository for intelligence around firearms crime throughout the UK.

1.6. For future operational and forensic success in the fight against gun crime, the MPS will need to rely on strengthened partnerships with regional and national bodies, such as, NaBIS. It is becoming increasingly important for forums to provide information sharing, learning and best practice as well as providing business improvement and governance in relation to the threat.

1.7. NaBIS, in collaboration with the 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.

1.8. 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.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. The current 3-year NABIS funding agreement, agreed by the NPCC, expires at the end of March 2022. By requesting approval until the end of March 2022 this paper aligns MOPAC governance with the NPCC funding timescales. Going forward the MPS intends to request MOPAC approval on a 3-year basis. The NPCC funding formula is currently being reviewed and so the MPS funding contribution to NABIS, beyond March 2022, is not yet known. A new paper to cover the next 3-year funding cycle will be submitted in 2021/22 once the new funding is finalised.

2.2. National funding for the NABIS 3 year funding cycle was approved at the Chiefs’ Council in January 2019. The MPS is invoiced annually for its contribution to NABIS funding. The agreement for funding is supported by the S.22a Collaboration agreement in place with forces and law enforcement agencies issued in July 2018.

2.3. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) contribute a fixed amount of £100,000 to this funding, as the MPS Firearms Forensic Unit provides NABIS services on behalf of the MPS and City of London Police. This annual contribution pays towards access to the NABIS Database and the provision of a dedicated London based analyst, as well as other forensic and intelligence support. In addition, MPS pays a contribution of £77,139.00 for the annual safeguard warranty for the IBIS which is procured collectively by West Midlands Police on behalf of NABIS, MPS and Police Scotland.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. 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.

3.2. This approval concerns the MPS’s contribution to the costs associated with running NABIS, the value of which is agreed across all police forces as part of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) funding agreement made in January 2019.

3.3. The current 3-year NABIS funding agreement, agreed by the NPCC, expires at the end of March 2022. By requesting approval until the end of March 2022 this paper aligns MOPAC governance with the NPCC funding timescales. Going forward, after March 2022, the MPS intends to request MOPAC approval on a 3-year basis.

3.4. The NPCC funding formula is currently being reviewed and so the MPS funding contribution to NABIS, beyond March 2022, is not yet known. A new paper to cover the next 3-year funding cycle will be submitted in 2021/22 once the new funding is finalised.

3.5. The expenditure of £177,139 will be funded by existing revenue budgets in Forensics.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. 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.

5. GDPR and Data Privacy

5.1. 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.

5.2. 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.

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

5.4. The project (NaBIS membership renewal and transfer of MPS funding – as defined in the Recommendations section) does not use personally identifiable data of members of the public, so there are no GDPR issues to be considered.

6. Equality Comments

6.1. MPS Strategic Diversity & Inclusion have been consulted on this contract award. As this document makes reference to a financial renewal of an existing function, the Crime Prevention, Inclusion and Engagement (CPIE) team have determined that this document presents no Impact therefore mitigating the need for an Equality Impact Assessment.

7. Background/supporting papers

7.1. Report.