In relation to the targets for hate crime how does the Policing Board accommodate for increased recording of such crimes which may not then achieve a reduction for this particular type of crime?
In setting and agreeing targets for all categories of crime in the Annual Annual Policing Plan consideration is given to the reality that in some categories there may be an under reporting aspect. In such cases the Policing Board would not set a target to reduce crime in that category. Rather it would be looking at a means of increasing confidence therefore increasing reporting. Hate crime is one such category. In this area the Policing Board would be more concerned to set a target in terms of clearance of these crimes or to encourage PSNI to develop outreach initiatives to engage with those communities affected and increase their confidence levels to report hate crimes.
Who defines the targets for the Annual Policing Plan and how they will be achieved? Are these targets really helping to improve performance?
The Annual Policing Plan is agreed annually between the PSNI Top Team and members of the Policing Board. The plan is structured under a series of Domains, Objectives, Performance Indicators and Targets. In developing the Annual Policing Plan PSNI and Policing Board give consideration to a range of factors – eg previous PSNI performance, crime trends and analysis, community issues identified by the DPPs, Secretary of State’s objectives, National Audit Office etc. A ‘Strategy Event’ is facilitated in October each year at which PSNI and Policing Board agree the objectives and performance indicators for the plan. Following on from this PSNI and Policing Board Officials consider and suggest targets which the Policing Board and PSNI Top Team sign up to. The Policing Board’s role is then to receive reports on an ongoing basis and ensure that the targets set are being met.
What happens if the Chief Constable falls short on the targets in the Annual Policing Plan?
The Policing Board regularly monitors performance against the targets. If mid year targets are not being met there are opportunities for the Policing Board members to challenge the Chief Constable on this and for measures to be put in place to address this. Ultimately at the end of each financial year the Policing Board will assess how the PSNI has performed against the plan and will publish in their annual report a summary of the targets achieved / missed.
What is the Policing Board’s view on performance related pay and the impact this would have on policing?
The pay, conditions of employment and pensions of all police officers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are negotiated on a national basis by the Police Negotiating Policing Board (PNB). PNB has representatives from Police Authorities (including the Policing Board), Police Federations and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Under the constitution of PNB the body’s role is to make recommendation to Government.
Some elements of police pay are presently performance related such as the Competency Related Threshold Payments Scheme (CRTPS). The subject of performance related pay is regularly considered by PNB. The challenge is to identify an effective mechanism to reward police officers, both individually and collectively, for the delivery of effective policing and the achievement of objectives and targets which result in the achievement of the Annual Policing Plan.