Agenda item

To receive a written update from Detective Superintendent Simon Warwick on Police numbers in the borough.

RECEIVED an update on Police numbers from Chief Inspector Taylor Wilson.

NOTED:

(i)            Chief Inspector Taylor Wilson provided an update on Police numbers in the Borough. He advised that prior to the implementation of the Local Policing Model, Police numbers in the Borough had sat at 524. This had subsequently increased in September 2013 to 609. Current numbers under the LPM allowed for 673 in total for all ranks, of which 625 posts were currently filled as at November 2014,

(ii)          CI Wilson then provided a breakdown of how the 625 posts were made up. This number included 50 PCSOs, a short fall of 40 as the allowed number was 90. However there were 406 Constables in post which was positive for the Borough in terms of policing on the streets;

(iii)         Members of the Panel were then updated on how the structure worked. CI Wilson explained that in essence there were three main areas of business, these were CID (Criminal Investigation Department), ERT (Emergency Response Team) and NPT (Neighbourhood Policing Team). A Briefing overview was then provided on the responsibilities and role of each of these business areas

Following Chief Inspector Wilson’s update the following comments/questions were raised:

(a)        Councillor Hamilton raised concerns that although the actual Police          numbers for Enfield were now higher than before the LPM she didn’t   feel this was reflected by more Police presence on the ground. For example with regards to the Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Edmonton     Green, Upper Edmonton and Haselbury it would appear that there had             been a reduction in numbers. She was also concerned that these   teams were working under much more pressure on a daily basis and           often got moved between wards;

(b)  CI Wilson explained how the new model worked and advised that the Safer Neighbourhood Teams sat within three clusters in the Borough. He agreed to provide Members with information on the cluster breakdowns to assist them in their understanding;

Action: Chief Inspector Wilson

(c)  He went on to say that it was recognised that teams were much more stretched than before and there was very much a more for less approach. However he advised the Panel that there was currently a MET wide review in place to address these sorts of issues which would include streamlining managers and investing more into putting additional Police back on the streets. The drive for the MET and Enfield Police was very much to have more Police patrolling the streets;

(d)  The Chair asked when we could expect the shortfall in the number of police to be rectified, and when the next recruitment drive would be occurring;

(e)  CI Wilson explained that the recruitment takes place quarterly with the next round likely to be in January 2015;

(f)   Councillor Hamilton was interested to see how Enfield’s Police numbers compared with other local inner city authorities. CI Wilson replied that it was acknowledged that Enfield were overstretched, however there were other boroughs sitting in a similar position. He explained that in boroughs with higher numbers of vacancies staff were not allowed to transfer out. Additionally those boroughs with the most vacancies were classed as priority boroughs and therefore would be the first to have staff drafted in. He said that Enfield would usually draw comparison of numbers with its neighbouring authorities Haringey, Barnet and Waltham Forest, and he would be happy to provide Members with this comparison data.

Action: CI Wilson

(g)  A resident asked how Police numbers for each borough were calculated. For example was it based on population/crime figures etc? CI Wilson advised that previously the formula used was based on the 2001 Census Data. However he was not sure if it was still calculated in this way, but would clarify this and feedback to Members at the next meeting.

Action: CI Wilson

(h)  In conclusion CI Wilson updated Members on the current recruitment process and explained that this was now a much quicker process as a Certificate of Policing Knowledge was obtained at college prior to coming into the Force, followed by much of the training then being carried out on the job as opposed to spending 20 weeks in residential training. In view of this there had been approximately 50/60 new recruits in the past six months.

The Chair thanked CI Wilson for his interesting and informative update.