Special Police Services Agreement with Stratford Village Development P

The decision seeks approval for the provision of policing services to Stratford Village Development Partnership.

The role of the funded police officers is to provide SPS to SVDP with a focus on visible patrols to combat crime and anti-social behaviour and partnership activity in the East Village of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park managed by SVDP.

The total cost of the dedicated police team of one sergeant and six constables totals £530,000 per year. The SPS agreement is for a period of one year commencing 1 April 2020.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is requested to:

a) Approve the request from Stratford Village Development Partnership (SVDP) to vary the current Special Police Services (SPS) Agreement to increase the number of funded officers;

b) Approve the request to extend the SPS Agreement with SVDP for a further 12 months from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. East Village is a large-scale residential development located at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) which, once complete will comprise of 4,818 homes. There are also commercial outlets and a primary school.

1.2. There is an existing SPS Agreement with SVDP under Section 25 of the Police Act 1996. The Agreement is for 12 months from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 for a dedicated police team of 0.5 of a sergeant (£42,838) and 4 constables (£284,917) and equipment costs of £3,781, a total of £327,754.

1.3. There is provision in the SPS Agreement for SVDP to formally request to extend the SPS Agreement for further subsequent 12-month periods. SVDP have requested SPS for a term of 12 months from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. This includes accommodation space for the police team.

1.4. SVDP have formally requested a variation in writing to the current SPS Agreement to increase the number of officers performing SPS to one sergeant (£85,675) and six constables (£427,375) and equipment costs of £5,881 for the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020, a total of £518,931. This has been as a result of the cessation of an SPS Agreement between MOPAC and the International Quarter Estate Management Company Limited (International Quarter) for special police services also within the vicinity of the QEOP at the end of March 2019. The resources from the SPS Agreement with International Quarter of 0.5 of a sergeant and 2 constables have been reassigned to SVDP who agreed to pay for the cost of the additional police officers from 1 April 2019.

1.5. It has been necessary for SVDP to have the formal approval of its Executive Board with regard to the increase in funding before it was able to formally request in writing to vary the existing SPS Agreement with MOPAC.

1.6. The MOPAC Scheme of Consent and Delegation provides that the level of increase in the cost of the SPS is such that the letter of variation will require the approval of the DMPC.

1.7. In respect of the 12 month extension to the SPS Agreement, the total cost of a dedicated police team of 1 sergeant at £88,318 per year, six constables totalling £435,126 per year and equipment costs of £5,881, is estimated to be £529,325, subject to the approval of the DMPC to the request to vary the current SPS Agreement and increase the number of officers on the dedicated team as outlined above.

1.8. The role of the funded police officers is to provide SPS to SVDP with a focus on visible patrols to combat crime and anti-social behaviour and partnership activity in the East Village of the QEOP managed by SVDP. It should be noted that the geographical area where the SPS is provided is land owned, leased or under the control of SVDP who also have their own security personnel deployed to the area in recognition of the responsibility for this location.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. The objectives of the police team include:

• to reduce the level of crime

• to reduce the level of disorder;

• to increase the feeling of safety among those who live, work and visit the East Village.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. The charge for SPS to SVDP for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 is reflective of the full cost recovery of 1 sergeant at £85,675 and six constables at £72,251 per constable. The total cost of 1 sergeant and six constables for each successive year of the SPS Agreement would be adjusted to ensure it continues to represent full cost recovery.

3.2. The benefit to the MPS of the provision of the funded officers at SVDP is, in liaison with the core police officers who go to make up the full police team, an ability to work with SVDP’s own security team in ensuring the residents of East Village are reassured and safe in their own home and make the location a far more difficult area for criminals to operate. The presence of the funded officers within the police team will reduce the level of emergency calls that North East BCU would have to respond and thereby ensure resources are not diverted from the policing of the remainder of the Borough.

3.3. In the event that the SPS Agreement was not renewed by SVDP, as these posts are additional posts above the workforce target for North East-CU, the posts would be removed and the officers filling these positions would be redeployed.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. There are no direct legal issues identified from the recommendations set out in this report.

4.2. The MPS may provide policing resources to SVDP under Section 25 of the Police Act 1996. Under that Act the Commissioner may, at the request of any person, provide SPS in accordance with legislation and current case law, subject to payment to MOPAC on charges on such scale and on such terms as it may determine. The SPS to be provided to SVDP complies with the requirements under Section 25 of the Police Act 1996.

4.3. The final decision rests with the DMPC as Section 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Consent and Delegation requires the DMPC to approve the provision of policing services to external bodies where the contract value is £500,000 or above.

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 programme meets its compliance requirements.

5.4. The programme 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. This business case has undergone initial equality screening. Due regard has been taken to the Equality Act’s Public Sector Equality Duty under Sec 149 of the Equality Act 2010. Real consideration has been taken to assess equality impact caused by the proposed business change including effective engagement and analysing relevant equality information. As a result no negative impact has been identified to any individual and/or group safeguarded by a protected characteristic and to those who are not.

6.2. SVDP, through its involvement, with the East End London Community Foundation, is keen to build a strong sense of community across the whole of the development. It also works with local groups and projects that have a tangible, positive impact on the community and through its ‘Inspiring Communities Fund’ provides grants to support them.

7. Background/supporting papers

7.1. The MPS report.