In relation to the Paramilitary Crime Task Force, can the Chief Constable advise why the PSNI has not adopted the use of the national scale to measure its disruptive effect on organised crime and if a “negatively impacted” assessment is to be included in future monitoring and reporting?
The national scale referred to in the question was the result of a recommendation from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) PEEL Inspection which stated, ‘PSNI should consider adopting the national scale (major, moderate, minor, none and negative) to measure its disruptive effect on organised criminals’.
Following the HMICFRS recommendation we have expanded the PSNI Disruption criteria to include a record of where there is no disruption at all or where PSNI and partner activity has had a negative impact (i.e. ‘there have been NO successful interventions against the OCG and Police and Partner activity has resulted in the OCG becoming more capable and/or increased the level of harm posed’. These are taken from the national scale).
We have also liaised with National Crime Agency (NCA) to determine definitions/criteria for the major, moderate and minor scales. These do not presently exist. Nationally the extent of disruption is assessed by the originating party as to what extent their action has dismantled/frustrated or otherwise undermined the OCG’s ability to cause harm.
Having taken all of this into consideration, PSNI has decided to retain the use of the current (expanded) disruption criteria. This will be kept under review.