4 December 2014

Report of the Police and Crime Commissioner

Priority Update – Tackling Serious and Organised Crime

1.Purpose of the Report

1.1The purpose of the report is to provide the Police and Crime Panel with an update on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s priority of tackling serious and organised crime.

2.Recommendations

2.1The Panel is asked to note the contents of the report.

3.Background

3.1The short, medium and long term priorities that are outlined within the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan have been encapsulated into the Merseyside Police Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, which has four main phases, pursue, prevent, protect and prepare. This report will provide an update against these four phases since February 2014 and in so doing address the relevant priorities.

4.Pursue

4.1The central methodology for identifying, assessing and managing threat, harm and risk is now well grounded and managed by MSOC Central Support. Issues relevant to serious and organised crime are managed via a daily tasking meeting. This meeting also identifies areas of threat and resources are mobilised to mitigate these threats.

4.2An example of this work can be taken from Operation Azuga led by MSOC Investigations, was the biggest mobilisation of resources ever by Merseyside Police. This operation was the culmination of an investigation to address threat and harm in Granby and Toxteth, in Liverpool. A number of key individuals have been charged and subsequently convicted following the recovery of firearms and class ‘A’ drugs.

4.3A cyber strategy has been developed for the Force by MSOC Central Support to co-ordinate activity in the ever evolving filed of cybercrime.

4.4.1Part of the pursue element of the strategy is to look at innovative ways of tackling criminals through an intervention, that is a partnership engagement route, as opposed to the traditional investigations. A comprehensive strategy has been developed by MSOC Central Support and a number of examples are included below as illustration of this type of work. The Unit have also identified opportunities to forge close links with partners nationally as organised crime groups (OCG’s) have infiltrated local firms e.g. car hire to frustrate law enforcement investigations. Firms are now working with the team to identify and eliminate corrupt employees, whilst keeping Police involvement minimised. Examples of this are:

  • A facilitator of vehicles for a St Helens organised criminal gang has been disrupted via a partnership approach with HMRevenue and Customs due to his tax evasion.
  • Member of ‘Strand Gang’, Norris Green identified as using a friend’s passport through Passport Agency. Disrupted travel plans for him and others.
  • An operation to target the use of motor cycles, predominantly scrambler type, was managed throughout the summer months.

5.Prevent

5.1A multi-agency group to review the female involvement in groups has been established in order to identify the role and most importantly ensure that vulnerable females are identified and protected.

5.2Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley Community Safety Partnerships have active groups looking at the gun and gang issues within their areas. In particular the DISARM group in Liverpool has developed a number of problem profiles for key areas of threat that have then driven activity to address the enablers of serious and organised crime. Community Engagement Officers from the OPCC are leading on the innovative cross border DISARM project in Kirkdale and South Sefton.

5.3Educational programmes have continued to be delivered across Merseyside with the most prevalent being the ‘Terriers Play and Educational Package’, funded by the Commissioner, which has been delivered to schools, colleges and prisons. This will start its autumn tour in November 2014.

6.Protect

6.1Arising from the aforementioned problem profiles, action plans have been put in place to ensure consolidation of any proactive action. The best illustration of this is the work in Norris Green, which culminated in the following quote from Barry Kushner, the local councillor:-

“And just to let you know an impact of your work. In Scargreen Park of an evening, there are young people skateboarding in the new facility, parents and young adults sitting on the grass and picnic table, children playing in the play area, people waking dogs, and some lads playing football on the all-weather pitches. Quite a transition from the shooting in 2010, and people can barely remember it being used as a public park in this way”.

6.2Merseyside Police are actively involved in a number of partnership initiatives such as DISARM, the sole objective of which is to build stronger communities.

6.3Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley have groups that identify, assess and manage young people at risk in order to protect them from being trapped by serious & organised crime.

7. Prepare

7.1A multi-agency critical incident protocol has been developed that encourages partnership involvement in post incident meetings to ensure a comprehensive and co-ordinated response.

7.2MSOC Investigations are working with the National Probation Service and Her Majesty’s Prison Service to develop management protocols around identified offenders in custody.

7.3Head of MSOC investigations is currently working with Liverpool University in relation to the development of an academic study into the local cultural influences impacting upon serious & organised crime.

8.Partnership Work

8.1Following the release of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Serious and Organised Crime Strategy in October 2013, the Commissioner is looking at enhancing Merseyside Police’s work with partners to tackle serious and organised crime through Serious and Organised Crime Partnerships.

8.2These Partnerships should play an important role in the Prevent, Protect and Prepare elements outlined above.

8.3The NCA strategy specifically identifies Police and Crime Commissioners as best placed to play a leading role in establishing the Partnerships.

8.4Work has begun via the Merseyside Community Safety Partnership to progress partnership work in this area.

8.Conclusion

Under the MSOC structure, Merseyside Policeare co-ordinating and developing some excellent initiatives and pieces of investigative work, which have been complimented by a number of visits from Home Office officials. Merseyside Police is making good progress against the strategy and in so doing, is clearly addressing the key priority of ‘Tackling Serious & Organised Crime’ as identified by the PCC.

Rt Hon Jane Kennedy

Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside

Contact Officer: Dr Jo Liddy, Chief of Staff, 0151 777 5155