Delivering the Policing Plan

Delivering the Policing Plan Chief Constable’s Annual Report 2008/09 Chief Constable’s foreword I Norma Graham QPM: Chief Constable t gives me great pleasure to present my first annual report as Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary reflecting on what has been another successful year for the Force. The efforts of our staff and productive relationships with key community planning partners have resulted in reductions in recorded crime; an improved detection rate, record drugs seizures, reduced casualty figures, and increased efficiency. In 2007/08, the Force recorded Scotland’s biggest crime reduction. It was therefore a challenge for my first year to maintain and build upon this exceptional performance and to continue to make progress in tackling the issues that most affect our communities. I am happy to report that during 2008/09 the Force not only sustained but exceeded the high levels of performance, continuing to improve in a number of key areas. In recent years the Force has focused service delivery on the four pillars of the ‘Policing Plan’ – Tackling Crime, Being there for the Community, Safer Neighbourhoods, and Building on “ D elivering a highquality service based on clear policing priorities for the communities of Fife is now firmly embedded in our culture and at the core of everything we do Success. Delivering a high-quality service based on clear policing priorities for the communities of Fife is now firmly embedded in our culture and at the core of everything we do. Our commitment to Tackling Crime ensures our resources are effectively deployed in intelligence-led activities enabling us to successfully target the issues that most affect our communities, ranging from local pressing concerns to high level national risk. For the fifth consecutive year we have achieved a page 2 reduction in recorded crime in tandem with increasing our detection rate. Having identified sexual crime as a key priority we have achieved a significant reduction in crimes of this nature. Being there for the Community is at the heart of our policing response and we have continued to develop and improve how people access our services. The introduction of the Community Engagement Model in the Levenmouth area, which involves local residents and Community Police Officers collectively agreeing local policing priorities has allowed the Force, the public, and partner agencies to positively tackle issues that the community feel affect them the most. In addressing a range of social issues such as substance misuse and road casualties, we have demonstrated our commitment towards Safer Neighbourhoods, contributing towards real outcomes for local people. Crimes and offences associated with antisocial behaviour have fallen on the previous year and our nationally acclaimed and innovative approach to youth justice has continued to deliver a reduction in persistent young offenders. We continue Building on Success through the sustained effort of all our people. With a greater focus on attendance management, we have seen the amount of time lost to sickness absence significantly reduced. This means that more Police Officers and Police Staff are available for duty within our communities and in supporting operational delivery. Policing Scotland’s communities in the 21st century is a complex and challenging task, with many local issues requiring difficult decisions around competing demands. In order to ensure that the Force is best placed to address emerging and future challenges a Strategic Review was instigated to enhance the delivery of our policing services to the people of Fife. The review has now reached the implementation stage and I look forward to launching a strengthened community policing approach, with greater emphasis on local delivery and meaningful community engagement. Our aim is to encourage more public involvement in shaping our policing priorities working closely with Officers to address local problems with local solutions. Community needs and concerns remain at the very heart of our policing strategies. The Police, Fire and Safety Committee has an important role to play in Peter Wilson QPM ensuring that policing meets public expectations, and I thank them for their continued support. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of my predecessor, Chief Constable Peter Wilson, who not only made a significant impact locally but was a key influence in shaping policing nationally. Our focus during the past 12 months has been building on previous success. That success is a result of the commitment, dedication and hard work of our Officers and Police Staff, who work closely with a range of organisations and agencies to deliver in partnership. As I look forward to the challenges of the coming year I am confident that by listening, understanding and responding to community needs we will continue to make Fife a safer place to live, visit and work. Police, Fire and Safety Committee Cllr George Kay, Chair Cllr Margaret Kennedy (Vice Chair) Cllr Jim Burke Cllr Betty Campbell Cllr Dave Dempsey Cllr Bob Eadie Cllr Charles Haffey Cllr William Ferguson Cllr Bill McCulloch Cllr Lizz Mogg Cllr Alf Patey Cllr Arthur Robertson Cllr Andrew Rodger Cllr Bill Sangster Cllr Maggie Taylor Norma Graham QPM, Chief Constable page 3 Tackling Crime AT A GLANCE • Reported Crime down 5% • Sexual Crime down 22% • Over £3 million drugs seized Reduce sexual crime The protection of children and vulnerable adults, and the effective management of high-risk sex offenders have continued to be key priorities for the Force. Concerted efforts in this area have led to a dramatic reduction of 22 per cent in recorded sexual crime and resulted in 127 fewer victims. Key to this reduction has been the successful management and targeting of high-risk offenders. In conjunction with key partners, and using validated risk assessment tools, Fife Constabulary managed 278 offenders within the community, subject to Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). This figure included 36 imprisoned offenders and six hospitalised offenders. In line with Government objectives, Fife Constabulary fulfilled its requirement to complete ‘Stable’ and ‘Acute’ assessments for all registered offenders during 2008. These assessment processes complemented the ‘Static Screening Tool’ by considering stable and dynamic risk factors in determining risks posed, and undoubtedly strengthened the position in terms of the management of offenders. In addition, the Force Offender Management Unit works proactively by managing and assessing a significant number of non-registered individuals who pose potential risks to the community. 2008/09 saw an increase in the number of specially trained Sexual Offence Liaison Officers to provide dedicated support to victims of sexual crime. These officers have been essential in ensuring that the needs of victims are at the heart of any sexual crime investigation. More proactive support has been provided by Community Safety Officers who continue to deliver practical safety advice for women, and have distributed alarms and information throughout the year at various women’s safety events. Remaining focused on all matters relative to the protection of children, The Force has continued to work with partner agencies to further develop data-sharing opportunities and actively supports the work of Fife’s Child Protection Committee. In October 2008, as part of the National Child Protection reform programme, the Services for Children Unit of HMIE visited Fife to examine child protection services. The inspection proved a valuable opportunity for all services and agencies involved in the protection of children and young people to identify best practice towards continuous improvement of the quality of service delivered in Fife. During the past 12 months, there has been an increase of child protection referrals to the Family Protection Unit, demonstrating a growth in public confidence when voicing concerns around the care of children. Analysts within the computer crime unit also played a major role in supporting national and international operations against those using the internet to abuse children. Their skills were called upon during a variety of serious crime investigations to undertake forensic analysis of mobile phones and other digital communications devices, often uncovering critical evidence which would otherwise have remained hidden. Address violence in the home and in public places During the past 12 months recorded violent crime has increased with an additional 26 cases reported. Although representing a rise on the previous year, the figure remains down compared to the three-year base line, and was met during this last year with an improved detection rate of 83 per cent. Violent offenders were tackled through a number of intelligence-led operations, such as ‘Hot Spots’ with Officers on high visibility patrols using stop and search powers on those suspected of carrying weapons, and Force campaigns such as ‘Policing our Festive Fife’, which resulted in a dramatic reduction of violent crime in those areas targeted. The Force undertook six murder enquiries during the past year. In all cases the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes were detected. In September, Robert Thomson was convicted of the murder of his two page 4 children, Michelle and Ryan, and subsequently received a life sentence. Following the murder of Mark White in November 2008, Stuart Whyte and Barry Kidd were convicted of culpable homicide and were sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison. In all cases the assistance received from the public was critical in relation to the subsequent investigations and once again demonstrates the strength of Fife’s communities when faced with tragic events. The efforts of all Staff are also highly commended due to their professionalism during these difficult and distressing enquiries. Domestic abuse referrals to the Family Protection Unit decreased slightly over the year, although domestic abuse cases resulting in the arrest of offenders, increased by three per cent. This illustrates the Force’s commitment to zero tolerance in relation to those who abuse their partners. Staff training was developed further throughout this year with more specific training in domestic abuse matters given, ensuring that when those affected find the courage to call the police they receive the right response at first point of contact. cent in relation to offences reported, and by six per cent in relation to amount of seizures of heroin and cocaine. Cash, in excess of £300,000, was seized during drugs operations, with a total of £92,237.74 recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. This is money taken directly from the pockets of drug dealers which would otherwise have been used to finance further criminal activities.This equates to preventing a dealer buying and selling five kilos of heroin, with a street value of approximately £500,000. The Force’s commitment to tackling crime continues to rely heavily on information received from the public and some recent successes in drug seizures were a direct result of calls made to Crimestoppers, with nearly 700 calls received in the past year resulting in positive police action. The use of Crimestoppers remains a valuable tool in the fight against crime and allows the public to tell the Force about criminal activity safe in the knowledge that they will remain anonymous. Understanding and tackling the links between organised crime and local communities has been the basis for much of the recent success the Force has achieved in the fight against drugs. Operation League II was launched in September 2008 and was a Joint Task Force involving all Scottish Police Forces. The operation aimed to identify and detect serious organised crime groups involved in large-scale cannabis cultivations often linked to human trafficking, serious violence and money laundering. Through this operation, Fife Constabulary seized £1,000,000 worth of cannabis in a one-week period following the discovery of two separate cultivations in Kelty. Enforcement is not the only focus however, and a great deal of work has been undertaken this year with key partners to reduce the harm and demand for illegal drugs. Drugs awareness sessions were held with NHS, Drug Agency and Fife Council staff in an effort to raise awareness of drug related issues and share information on emerging trends. Reduce the availability of illegal drugs Drugs misuse clearly has a negative impact on communities through criminality, disorder and the harm it generates, affecting public reassurance and increasing fear of crime. Working closely with other forces, agencies and partners, organised crime groups were mapped and targeted, and significant success was achieved this year in relation to the Force’s commitment to reduce the availability of illegal drugs. Through an intelligence-led approach, operations involving specialised officers, front line staff and the dog section, resulted in drugs seizures with a street value of £3,281,835, which is almost three times more than the previous year, representing one of the most successful years ever. In particular £985,157 worth of Class A drugs were seized in the Kingdom resulting in 347 cases being submitted to the Procurator Fiscal for dealing in Class A drugs. This has exceeded the end-of-year target by 19 per page 5 Being there for the community AT A GLANCE • 9000 hours supporting public events • Call handling exceeding National Targets • 18 new Neighbourhood Watch Schemes Improve accessibility The Force Contact Centre (FCC) is the first point of contact for most people contacting the Police and this key area of service has continued to improve its accessibility to the public over the past year. The profile of the Single NonEmergency Number (0845 600 5702) has increased and is now widely used, and is complimented by other services and mechanisms of public contact which continue to be developed, such as e-mail and the further advancement of the SMS texting service for the deaf – which is seen by other organisations as an example to aspire to. The FCC continues to exceed national targets with regard to call handling volumes. In the last year, 96 per cent of the 390,000 calls received were answered, exceeding targets by four per cent. In addition, 96.5 per cent of 999 calls were answered within 10 seconds, again exceeding targets by 1.5 per cent. Innovative approaches to improving accessibility continued this year with the co-location of Community Officers within the Council Local Services Centre, in Abbeyview, Dunfermline. The distinctive blue and white chequered Fife Police sign has been erected above the centre to indicate the availability of police services and has been well used since inception. The Local Service Centre in Templehall, Kirkcaldy has also been installed with new technology to provide local officers with IT access to police systems, reducing the need for them to return to stations and maximising their presence within the local community. The Force continued throughout the year to review and amend building arrangements, as appropriate, and in order to meet the needs of Fife’s diverse communities. An example of this is the revised flooring arrangements at headquarters reception to assist the visually impaired. The Force improved its response to members of the public who chose to write to us during 2008/09. There was a 55 per cent increase in the volume of correspondence received. Despite this increase, commitment to ensuring prompt and appropriate responses saw 100 per cent turnaround for subject access requests, and 99.7 per cent of all Freedom of Information requests completed within timescale. Enhance visibility Throughout this past year, the growth of community policing continued to be promoted. With the Area Committee structure in Fife now well established, each of the seven Area Chief Inspectors further developed relationships with partners, ensuring the best representation of the Force in their respective communities. The Chief Inspectors were also instrumental in developing and leading Area Community Safety Co-ordinating Groups, which have been positively received in the community. These groups meet to identify and tackle the priority community safety issues across the locality, ensuring that officer patrols are focused in areas of greatest public concern. In the first full year of the Area Committee structure, the progress that is being made in all areas is encouraging and there is clear evidence emerging in respect of enhanced, meaningful partnership working. The Force supported a variety of public events during the 2008/09-year, ranging from local galas, cultural carnivals and other key community events including the Burntisland Highland Games. Overall, officers spent nearly 9,000 hours supporting these public events. Officers were deployed in a variety of locations to ensure that a visible presence was maintained. The Community Access Vehicle was put to good use in some of Fife’s rural areas, providing those residents with a reassuring presence. Work completed as part of the ‘Safer Buses Initiative’ saw officers travel on school buses and give much needed presence, and also ‘Pedal Power’ was put to great use across the Kingdom with numerous patrols undertaken on pedal cycles in key areas. Summary Justice Reform has provided page 6 the police with a variety of options to tackle low level offending, known as ‘direct measures’. This allows officers flexibility to deal with offenders on the street, whether by formal or discretionary warnings or fixed penalty tickets. These processes have allowed officers to remain visible in Fife’s communities and reduced the amount of time spent returning to the station to complete reports. In addition, by using the ever-expanding technology available through the Airwave radio system, officers have been able to complete a number of administrative functions while out on patrol. In reaching out further to Fife’s communities, 2008/09 saw over 100 officers and police staff from across the Force take on the role of Diversity Liaison Officers. This role was designed to provide the public with an enhanced service and these dedicated officers were specifically trained in the various aspects of the seven key strands of diversity. The appointment of these Force ‘Diversity Experts’ will be developed further in the future to ensure that all community groups receive the highest level of engagement and that staff continue to learn and become better informed about diversity issues in communities to best serve the needs of the people of Fife. Community Officers, Special Constables and Community Wardens to distribute crime prevention advice as part of Force-wide initiative ‘Operation Nightlight’. The ‘Nominated Neighbour’ scheme also expanded across Fife and is actively promoted by Community Safety Officers. There are 347 nominated neighbours providing reassurance to elderly residents. Their support and commitment to the scheme has ensured that victims of ‘Bogus Workmen’ crime have not suffered any further incidents and is a great example of how Fife’s communities come together to protect one another. Target hardening programmes continued during the year with over 1200 home security surveys and 300 commercial surveys undertaken. The Force continues to drive ‘Secure by Design’ and two awards were granted with a further five awards pending in recognition of efforts in this regard. Additionally, the appointment of three dedicated Counter Terrorism Security Advisors enabled specialist advice in respect of national security issues to be given to local businesses and partners. The effective use of Fife Public Space CCTV continues to provide reassurance throughout Fife and is a key tool in crime prevention and detection. In the last 12 months CCTV operators have generated 100 per cent more incidents than the previous year, leading to an increase in people detained. One important aspect of the CCTV Operators role is locating Missing Persons and through their diligence they have helped to locate 92 members of the public who were reported lost or missing. Following the success of the Campus Officers in Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy, a Schools Community Officer was established in Levenmouth. This approach will be evaluated as part of a wider Force review of school liaison in the 2009/10 year. Provide reassurance and support The Force has worked hard with the public and partners to encourage joint working to address the fear of crime. Providing reassurance to Fife’s communities remains a key priority for the Force and the support provided by local residents has been essential. For example, the success of the Neighbourhood Watch movement in Fife is solely attributed to the commitment and energy of those volunteers who give up their free time. A further 18 new associations have been set up across the Kingdom this year, undoubtedly contributing to the continued reduction in reported crime. The proactive work of these groups was evidenced at the end of 2008, when numerous volunteers from Neighbourhood Watch and Community Safety Panels joined forces with page 7 Local focus Central Division In April 2008, the policing year got off to an exciting start with the arrival of Europe’s largest street fair, Links Market. Central Division is well versed in policing this event and a high-visibility presence ensured the 140,000 visitors to Kirkcaldy were able to enjoy the thrills of the fair in a safe environment. During the summer, a number of initiatives were held throughout the Division to address alcohol-related youth disorder. In Glenrothes, using funding from the Scottish Government, the ‘Safer Precincts’ initiatives were launched, focusing on education, enforcement and diversion activities. More than 900 young people were involved with a variety of organised activities held at the Fife Institute. In September, a ‘Safer Towns’ initiative was launched in Kirkcaldy. Working in partnership with the town centre management and Fife Council, the scheme successfully tackled antisocial behaviour attributed to the night-time economy. ‘Operation Rush’ was introduced to police the use of the Esplanade by ‘boy racers’ and had a similar positive impact on antisocial behaviour issues. Other schemes such as ‘Pub Watch’, ‘Taxi Marshals’ and the ‘Best Bar None’ initiative delivered significant reductions in violent crime, vandalism and disorder through a co-ordinated approach focusing on both education and enforcement activities. In October 2008, the Community Engagement Model was launched in Levenmouth. This approach to policing was designed to improve the accessibility of the staff of Fife Constabulary to members of the community, as well as seeking traditional and innovative ways of addressing issues that local people feel affect them the most. The process involves local residents meeting face to face with Community Police Officers at bi-monthly Community Consultation Meetings in their area. Thereafter, collective agreement is reached on a number of priorities for the police to deal with. This has achieved some significant results in dealing with a Eastern Division Key achievements in reducing the types of crime and offences, which matter most to communities in Eastern Division, have been achieved in the past 12 months through the efforts of staff, engagement with partners and the assistance and support of the public. Having identified road safety as a key concern for East Fife, a rural roads initiative was held in May 2008. Road Policing Officers, supported by Fife Safety Camera Partnership, patrolled the country roads network, detecting and reporting a significant number of those who endanger themselves and others. In a bid to reduce antisocial behaviour, the Cupar Community Team led a multi-agency approach on a summer initiative to restrict the sale of alcohol from off-licence premises to people under 21. Throughout the duration of the initiative there was a marked reduction in the number of antisocial behaviour complaints received in the Cupar area and most specifically on Friday and Saturday nights. During the winter months, and as a means of proactively preventing antisocial behaviour, officers from the East Neuk encouraged local youngsters to compete in five-a-side football matches, at Waid Sports Hall. This scheme improved the relationships between Community Officers and local youths, who gained a better understanding of the impact of their actions, and led to a reduction in the number of calls relating to antisocial behaviour. Some unforeseen events over the past year challenged the Division’s capability and capacity. In August 2008, particularly heavy rainfall resulted in extensive flooding and associated damage. A multi-agency approach was instigated, along with partners in Fife page 8 Western Division Building on the success of previous years, Western Division has continued a downward trend of reported crime, with a further reduction of eight per cent in recorded crimes and offences. During the year, officers from Western Division led on an investigation into ‘bogus workmen’ which resulted in the identification and detection of persons responsible for a series of such crimes across West Fife, five other Scottish forces, and police areas in England. Officers continued to make best use of antisocial behaviour legislation, which resulted in closure orders being granted in the Lumphinnans and Dunfermline areas, thus improving the quality of life for local residents. Dunfermline City Centre has enjoyed rejuvenation in both building and fabric and a dedicated officer deployed to the Kingsgate Centre has led to a marked improvement in retail crime figures. With the introduction of ‘Street Pastors’, ‘Pub Watch’ and ‘Taxi Marshals’, the city centre is undoubtedly a safer place to shop and socialise. In June, co-ordinated multi-agency community safety events took place in Kelty, Cardenden, Lochgelly, Crossgates and Cowdenbeath. More than 500 people attended and received an array of information including personal safety advice. The week concluded with a “Blue Light Band” event held in Cowdenbeath, where young people enjoyed a live concert in a safe and alcohol free environment. During the Force Summer Safety Campaign, officers from South West Fife targeted vandalism and youth disorder, through high visibility patrols at Silver Sands, Inverkeithing, Kincardine and Oakley. The work resulted in the seizure of 40 litres of alcohol and the detection of 14 vandalisms. In addition, Operational School Zone resulted in over 100 litres of alcohol being seized, reinforcing commitment to tackle alcohol abuse and to creating safer neighbourhoods. In December 2008, officers from Cowdenbeath undertook a ‘Safer Santa’ initiative with a road safety theme. School visits were conducted in over 16 primary schools, reaching over 500 children, who all received a gift from Santa, as a result of sponsorship received from local businesses. number of localised problems, including antisocial behaviour, speeding and underage drinking. A number of local priorities identified during the first round of meetings were successfully completed, many of these through effective partnership working, with public sector and voluntary organisations, such as Fife Council, Fife Housing Association, Levenmouth Community Safety Panel and DAPL (Drug and Alcohol Project, Levenmouth). The level of support from local residents attending the meetings, and their positive comments about the outcome of the work undertaken by local police staff to deal with the priorities identified has been echoed by community representatives, including elected members, all of whom have seen a positive change in attitude to the way local issues are addressed. Council, Fife Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Ambulance Service to provide assistance and reassurance to members of the public throughout the area. Over a three-day period in January 2009, two missing person enquiries were instigated involving protracted enquiry, searches over extensive areas and the utilisation of specialist resources from other organisations. While the 10-day enquiry into both cases ended tragically, exceptional support was received from the community in response to media appeals. Eastern Division also supported a number of planned events such as ‘The Curtis Cup’, which was held at St Andrews for the first time, and the ‘Leuchars Airshow’, which continues to be an extremely popular event. Both events were well attended, with the latter attracting crowds in the region of 45,000. page 9 Safer neighbourhoods AT A GLANCE • 4% reduction in antisocial behaviour • 56% fewer persistent young offenders • 29% reduction in speeding offences Reduce antisocial behaviour In the last year, Fife Constabulary has undertaken many varied initiatives aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour, which has resulted in a decrease of five per cent on the number of such offences recorded; in particular, vandalism, which makes up the majority of antisocial behaviour offences, fell by 10 per cent. This reduction has been achieved on a number of fronts, through multi-agency work on prevention, education, intervention and enforcement. A key success has been the continued development of the ‘Multi-Agency Safer Neighbourhoods Team’ that among other priorities concentrated their efforts in one of Fife’s highest risk areas in respect of antisocial behaviour. Through best use of the multi-agency resources, significant in-roads have been made in reducing antisocial behaviour in the Templehall area, Kirkcaldy. The benefits of such a multi-agency approach is again illustrated through the Youth Offender Management Group meetings, whereby all the Youth Justice partners including Police, Social Work, SACRO, Safer Neighbourhoods Team, Education Service, Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) and the Health Service, attend meetings twice weekly. All juvenile reports for the previous 24-48 hours are discussed, with the most appropriate intervention agreed for each young person. This has led to a 56 per cent reduction in persistent young offenders and reduced the number of police reports submitted to the SCRA by half. The success of the Youth Offender Management Scheme continues to grow, with the Scottish Government recognising Fife’s process as a model of Best Practice. This has been supported by visits from both the Justice Minister and the Director General of Justice for the Scottish Government. To further promote the good work carried out in Fife, the Force Youth Justice Co-ordinator has just returned from a secondment to the Scottish Government, which saw her writing national guidance for ‘Early and Effective Intervention’ based on the work in Fife. This document is due for publication at the end of June 2009 to support the rollout of Fife’s processes across all areas in Scotland. In terms of enforcement to tackle lowlevel antisocial behaviour at the source, the Force was pro-active in issuing offenders with antisocial Behaviour Fixed Penalty Notices. During the past year, officers across Fife issued more than 2,000 such notices, an increase of more than 18 per cent from the previous year. By maximising the use of these notices, not only have officers tackled low-level antisocial behaviour that causes concern to local communities, it also allowed the police to remain highly visible on patrol and able to respond quickly to ongoing incidents. Tackle alcohol misuse Alcohol misuse, and underage drinking in particular are major contributory factors to antisocial behaviour in Fife. There is no shortage of individuals who are willing to purchase alcohol on behalf of young people and there are also many offlicenses known or suspected to be selling alcohol directly to underage people. Fife Constabulary led the way with the introduction of test purchasing and continues to undertake operations to detect those unscrupulous retailers who sell alcohol to young people. The consumption of alcohol is also directly linked to public space violence, which often occurs between young males while out socialising in the bars of town centres. During the ‘Festive Fife’ campaign, high-visibility patrols visited more than 2,700 licensed premises, 500 litres of alcohol were seized and 44 people were reported for drinking in public places. The Fife ‘Best Bar None’ scheme is now in its third year and has seen the number of premises accredited more page 10 than double since its inception. More than 100 eligible premises were invited to take part in the 2008/09 scheme with 54 premises returning an application. After assessment, 33 of these premises were awarded ‘Best Bar None’ accreditation, showing that they provide a safe and friendly environment for the public to socialise. The scheme recognises and rewards well-run premises that have shown high standards in promoting both public safety and responsible drinking, and encourages other premises to do likewise. Alcohol Awareness Week was held in October 2008 and is a joint project between the Scottish Government and the Drinks Industry Partnership. The week is a platform to provide the public with hints and tips about responsible drinking. The Force Alcohol Liaison Officer, in partnership with Drug & Alcohol Project Levenmouth (DAPL) and Fife Fire & Rescue Service, held a series of road shows throughout Fife giving the public useful information. The ‘Safe Fifer’ event continued into its ninth year and welcomed over 4,000 pupils from Fife’s primary schools during May and September 2008. The children received inputs from a variety of partners on subjects ranging from Alcohol and Drugs misuse, Internet Safety through to Safer Transport and Wildlife Crime. The work in this area was recognised with a Safer Neighbourhoods POP award and will continue throughout the year especially to target the highrisk takers in the community. The 2008 festive drink/drugs drive campaign was also aimed at the younger driver as they continue to ignore the obvious dangers such reckless behaviour has on their lives and other road users. Fife Safety Camera Partnership recorded a 29 per cent reduction in detected offences compared with 2007/08. This reflects significant public/driver compliance with speed restrictions and also compliments the encouraging casualty reduction outcomes for Fife, endorsing that the efforts during the year to inform the public of the importance of reducing their speed have had some positive impact. Education is key to the delivery of the road safety message. Fife’s Road Safety Unit has a clear focus on primary and secondary school education programmes, linked to the Curriculum for Excellence. In October 2008 the Unit was highly commended for its outstanding contribution to road safety from the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards. This recognition related to the Primary seven transition programme, which is delivered to all pupils before their move up to secondary school. This programme is then followed up by a further presentation in year one of secondary school. Following on from the success of these programmes, the Road Safety Unit is now developing a further input for S3 pupils. In March 2009, the Road Safety Unit also organised a very successful ‘Junior Road Safety Officer’ seminar. A total of 90 schools, 200 children and 100 teaching staff attended. The workshops at the seminar were both informative and fun and the children went back to school with lots of ideas and prizes to promote road safety education in their own school. Working in partnership with other agencies for this event proved to be very worthwhile. Improve road safety In 2008, great success was achieved in the reduction of fatal or serious casualties resulting from road collisions, which fell by 15 per cent. However, each casualty brings its own personal tragedy and although the statistics continue to encourage all those involved, there is still plenty of work to do. Road Policing officers have been very busy ensuring that the most vulnerable 17-25 year old drivers and passengers receive attention with appropriate enforcement where required. Operation ‘Take Control’ continues to focus on this group as they are disproportionately represented in the casualty figures. page 11 Building on success AT A GLANCE • £1.07 million efficiency savings • 19 extra officers through attendance management • Special Constables turned out for 12,000 hours of duty Deliver efficiency As the first year of the Efficient Government Initiative concludes, Fife Constabulary has achieved target savings of £1.07 million set by the Scottish Government for 2008/09. All savings identified were reinvested to benefit front-line service delivery. The aim of the Efficient Government Initiative is to provide a more effective service to the communities served, while securing value for money. There was an active programme of continuous improvement activity within the Force in the last year identifying areas for improvement and initiating change to processes and procedures. A wide range of initiatives which identified savings included: improvements in attendance management; revision of procurement arrangements for advertising specialist posts; process improvements and increased workload within existing resources. The Force’s continuing commitment to positive environmental policies not only enhanced efficiency but minimised the impact business has on the environment. Simple steps taken by staff, such as switching off computers when not in use, using less paper and the recycling of uniforms and equipment, proved highly successful. Workforce re-modelling has identified a number of opportunities for civilianisation of certain roles. The resulting financial savings are re-invested into front-line duties and this work will continue as the policing structure is reviewed. Supporting the commitment to ‘Best Value’ the Force introduced organisational self-assessment, based on the European Foundation for Quality Management excellence model during this year. Between May and July 2008, a number staff from across the Force engaged in a number of self-assessment activities including the completion of an online questionnaire. The results of the self-assessment were generally very good, with particularly good performance in the areas of Leadership, Policy and Strategy and People Management. An action plan was developed from the findings of the assessment, which was translated into individual objectives for relevant departments and divisions to progress. Improve resource management The Force has continued to make excellent progress in relation to attendance management. As the majority of the Police budget is allocated to staffing costs, it is essential to maximise attendance levels. While the Force continues to assist members of staff with health problems, an increasingly firm approach has been taken with those who are regularly absent, with no apparent underlying health problem. Two years on from having recognised the need to improve performance in this important area, the latest absence statistics show that in the past year 3.5 per cent and 4.4 per cent of working was lost due to sickness absence among Police Officers and Police Staff respectively. This represents a marked improvement on previous years and equates to an additional 19 Police Officers and three police staff members being available for duty within communities, supporting operational delivery. Performance in this area is now among the best in Scotland. The dedicated Resource Management Unit ensures that the right people are in the right place at the right time. By planning ahead and making effective use of variable shift patterns the Force has reduced levels of time off by 50 per cent and cancelled rest days by 33 per cent. The Force introduced the E-Citation computer system in 2008, where all officers cited for court are advised electronically. This system has dramatically reduced officer time wasted through unnecessary attendance at court and has provided the Force with valuable management information which can be utilised for further improvements. The appointment of a Force Custody Manager has led to an improvement in the way the custody centres are resourced. During this first year in post, page 12 there has been restructuring of shift patterns to ensure that Police Custody Security Officers coverage is aligned to periods of peak demand. While the long-term objectives for custody care remain focused on the provision of two purpose-built centres, the changes delivered this year will not only enhance efficiency in this area but more importantly ensure that the Force continues to provide high levels of care to those in our custody. Similarly, a review of staffing within our Force Contact Centre has led to a more simplified approach to call handling, again ensuring that the right number of people are on duty to deal with varying levels of demand. personal time, these six officers are now in a better position to influence future policing in Fife through developed leadership and management skills. Fife Constabulary has a real commitment to promoting equalities both internally and externally, and this has continued over the last 12 months. Disability awareness and staff development events have been held to improve opportunities for staff and increase their awareness of diversity issues. In August 2008 the Force also hosted a multicultural spectacular at Police Headquarters. Despite a summer downpour hundreds of people attended the multicultural fair, which offered displays and demonstrations from a host of multicultural groups, such as Chinese lion dancing and the Indian dance group ‘Dance Ihayami’. The event demonstrated the Force’s creative and innovative approach to addressing diversity and all who attended welcomed the opportunity to come together for a better understanding and appreciation of the various customs and cultures, which exist in Fife’s communities. These initiatives, and many others, have seen the Force being formally recognised in the field of diversity by being awarded the Fife Diversity Business Award for recruitment and retention of staff in 2008. Special Constable Roy Bower was the deserved winner of the Special Constable of the Year Award, which was presented to him at the Annual Dinner by the Chief Constable in November last year. Roy runs and organises a karate youth initiative at his local station and campaigns endlessly for funds to make sure that the children of Fife can take part for free at all times. Helen Lindsey, Fife Constabulary’s Special Constables Coordinator, was also honoured this year by winning the Kingdom FM Local Hero – Emergency Service Employee Award. Not only does Helen dedicate her working life to the support and welfare of Special Constables but she is also a Special Constable herself, committing her own free time to undertake front-line duties. Maximise operational impact Having the right people to deliver high quality policing to Fife’s communities is always a priority. Fife Constabulary continues to recruit officers from the wider communities of Fife, and beyond. The high calibre of new recruits has been evidenced during the year with the achievement of numerous awards from the Scottish Police College. Two officers from Fife received the prestigious Baton of Honour award for the most outstanding officer of their course; the achievements of Philip Nish, serving in Eastern Division, and Martyn Hayward, Central Division, serves to illustrate the overall commitment of officers to be the best that they can be in their service to the people of Fife. The Diploma in Police Service Leadership and Management, first introduced in 2007, has been developed as a replacement for the old-style Police (Scotland) Promotion Examination in Scotland. This qualification is specifically designed for Police Officers and consists of nine Higher National Units within a framework of four modules. Topics covered are Policing in Scotland, Managing Dilemmas, Achieving Success Through Management, and Leading People. During the last year, two groups of students (six officers) completed and passed the Diploma. After the significant investment of their own page 13 Key performance statistics at a glance This section provides an overview of the Forces Performance during the last 12 months. While some of the details have still to be audited the police performance figures show some remarkable results in terms of operational achievement Reported/Detected Crime – Groups 1 - 5 2007/2008 Group Group 1 – Violence Group 2 – Sexual Crime Group 3 – Dishonesty Group 4 – Vandalism etc Group 5 – other crimes Total Recorded 501 584 11436 8690 4151 25362 Detected 411 485 5748 3089 4100 13833 Recorded 527 457 10549 7797 4745 24075 2008/2009 Detected 442 304 5082 2698 4727 13253 Road Safety Road Collision Data – Casualty Figures ■2007/2008 ■2008/2009 Road Collision Data – Casualty Figures (children) ■2007/2008 ■2008/2009 125 800 600 400 200 Fatal 0 Serious Slight Total 100 75 25 0 Fatal Serious Slight Total Reduce Antisocial Behaviour 2007/08 Breach of the peace Vandalism/Mal Mischief Drinking in Public Places Urinating/Defecating Wilful Fire Raising Petty Assault Total 4874 7938 759 587 396 4967 19521 2008/09 4769 7134 627 574 331 5265 18700 page 14 How we spent our money Operating expenditure £000s 2007/08 Territorial Policing Crime Management Community Safety Department Operational Support Corporate Support Departments Specific Operations & Secondments Appropriation & Financing Costs Total * restated to exclude ICT costs (transferred to SPSA 1/4/08) Improved accessibility Force Contact Centre – Call handling 2008/09 £33,073 £4,922 £999 £9,126 £8,275 £2,775 £6,179 £65,349 All calls Calls offered Calls answered per cent Calls answered 999 calls Calls received Calls answered per cent Calls answered 2007/08 431524 407759 94 per cent 2007/08 46992 44882 95.5 per cent 2008/09 390842 373480 96 per cent 2008/09 47066 45396 96.5 per cent £32,614 £4,571 £1,059 £8,364 £7,921 £2,631 £4,385 £61,545 Capital expenditure £000s 2007/08 Vehicle Fleet Communications and IT Property Equipment Total £599 £408 £874 £562 £2,443 2008/09 £386 £309 £451 £236 £1,382 Working time lost Due to sickness ■ 2007/2008 ■ 2008/2009 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% Police Officers Police Staff Criminal Proceedings Taken Resolved Assault Excessive Force Incivility Neglect of Duty Irregularity in Procedure Traffic Irregularity/Offence Oppressive Conduct Unnecessary Arrest Discriminatory Behaviour Corrupt Practice Other Criminal Other Non Criminal Total 0 2 1 3 4 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 14 0 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 1 18 23 27 3 12 0 5 3 5 1 98 0 0 33 28 61 7 10 4 2 0 1 3 149 23 15 0 1 4 2 1 4 0 3 11 1 65 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 12 8 4 4 0 0 1 0 2 41 0 0 0 9 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 12 23 19 63 77 108 17 29 8 9 7 18 9 387 Total Complaints about the Police Resulting in Misconduct Criminal Conviction Unsubstansiated Advice to Officer No proceedings by PF Abandoned Withdrawn For more detailed information, including the Scottish Policing Performance Framework please refer to the Fife Constabulary website: www.fife.police.uk page 15 Fife Constabulary Police Headquarters Detriot Road Glenrothes KY6 2RJ For non-emergency calls to Fife Constabulary Telephone 0845 600 5702 Recruitment 01592 418842 Road Safety 01592 418511 Firearms Licensing 01592 418424 Professional Standards 01592 411965 If you require the annual report in a different format please contact 01592 418815 www.fife.police.uk