Community policing model

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.21.021720

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. I would like information on whether London's Metropolitan Police continues to implement the community policing model today. I would like to know the services or functions to which you give more preference.

2. What importance do you give to information or transparency for the citizens, to the value of their police statistics, to the professionalization of its members, to the system of complaints or claims.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - I would like information on whether London's Metropolitan Police continues to implement the community policing model today. I would like to know the services or functions to which you give more preference.

The Neighbourhood Policing model is still in place. The current model ensures that for every electoral ward there are a minimum of 2 PCs (Dedicated Ward Officers) and 1 PCSO. There are some areas with more PCs but this is decided by each individual Basic Command Unit (BCU). Each ward team engages with a Ward Panel made up of members of the public who live, work or study on the ward. In conjunction with these Ward Panels the team sets priorities which are specific to the area and the issues therein. There will be three priorities set for each ward, one will always be set around combatting violence or drivers of violence (set by the BCU) and the other two will be set by the ward panel. The priorities are driven by data and statistics as well as discussion with the panel as to what is important to the people living on the ward or emerging issues.

Q2 - What importance do you give to information or transparency for the citizens, to the value of their police statistics, to the professionalization of its members, to the system of complaints or claims.

In respect to question 2 this is a general question, and not a request for recorded information within the everyday meaning of the Act. Therefore, this question appears not to be a valid FOI request.

To explain this further, S84 of FOIA relates to recorded information held by a public authority and that it does not extend to providing explanations unless the answers are already held in a recorded form.
"Information is defined in section 84 of the Act as 'information recorded in any form'. The Act therefore only extends to requests for recorded information. It does not require public authorities to answer questions generally; only if they already hold the answers in recorded form. The Act does not extend to requests for information about policies or their implementation, or the merits or demerits of any proposal or action - unless, of course, the answer to any such request is already held in recorded form." (Day vs ICO & DWP – EA/2006/0069 Final Decision)

However in respect of your question you may be interested in the below links to our vision and values and the Met’s Strategy below.

MPS - Vision and Values

MPS Our Strategy-2018-2025.pdf