Concern Hub, now MACE in Borough of Lewisham

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.032119

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. In relation to your force’s use of involvement with the ‘Concern Hub’, subsequently transitioned to the Multi-Agency Child Exploitation subgroup (‘MACE’) in the Borough of Lewisham: Does your force provide data to the ‘Concern Hub’, now MACE in the Borough of Lewisham?

2. Does your force carry out risk assessment, profiling or predictions as part of this project in the Borough of Lewisham? If yes, please provide

3. What types of data are used to calculate risk assessments, profiles or predictions (e.g PNC criminal history data, custody images, nationality data, ethnicity data, education data, employment data, immigration status data, relationship status data, financial data) in the Borough of Lewisham?

4.What are the types of operational outcomes that occur in relation to individuals profiled as part of the ‘Concern Hub’ or ‘MACE’ (for example, monitoring of an individual by police, stop and search, other targeted interventions involving police) in the Borough of Lewisham?

5.Do you hold an easily accessible and centrally held record of how many people have been referred to the ‘Concern Hub’ or ‘MACE’ in the Borough of Lewisham?

6.If yes, please provide: How many individuals have been referred to the Concern Hub or MACE in the Borough of Lewisham in the following years: 2022, 2021, 2020.

Request Two - Hillingdon Axis project

In relation to your force’s involvement with the Hillingdon Axis project:

7.Does your force provide data to the Hillingdon Axis project?

8.Does your force carry out or assist with risk assessment, profiling or predictions as part of this project?

9.If yes, please provide What types of data are used to calculate risk assessments, profiles or predictions (e.g PNC criminal history data, nationality data, ethnicity data, education data, employment data, immigration status data, relationship status data, financial data)?

Decision

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

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

The MPS is pleased to be able to disclose the answers to Question One (1), Two (2), Three (3), Five (5), Six (6), Seven (7) and Eight (8).

No information is held for Question Four (4) and Nine (9).

Q1 - In relation to your force’s use of involvement with the ‘Concern Hub’, subsequently transitioned to the Multi-Agency Child Exploitation subgroup (‘MACE’) in the Borough of Lewisham: Does your force provide data to the ‘Concern Hub’, now MACE in the Borough of Lewisham?

The Concern Hub was replaced in February 2022, it is currently referred to as the Lewisham Pre-Mace.

The panel includes, Children’s Social Care, Youth Justice Service, Child Exploitation Team Police, Serious Youth Violence Police, Missing Co-ordinator (Local Authority). The purpose of the panel is to provide a quality assurance process to ensure that high risk cases are escalated to the MACE. The Pre-Mace Panel sits once per month.

In answer to your question, information is shared between agencies for the purpose of safeguarding.

Each individual (10-25 years of age) is discussed on a case by case basis and there is no set formula for how much information is shared however it must be proportionate to the concerns of the individual.
Please note there is not a specifically named sharing agreement for Pre-MACE (previously referred to as Concern Hub) as all sharing is done via the London Multi-Agency Safeguarding Data Sharing Agreement for Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children.

Q2 - Does your force carry out risk assessment, profiling or predictions as part of this project? If yes, please provide

Each individual referred into the Pre-Mace is risk assessed.

The SAFEGUARD assessment and the Sexual Harm Behaviour Indicators risk assessment is used to assess the level of risk towards the individual.

The panel does not carry out profiling or predictions.

Q3 - What types of data are used to calculate risk assessments, profiles or predictions (e.g PNC criminal history data, custody images, nationality data, ethnicity data, education data, employment data, immigration status data, relationship status data, financial data) in the Borough of Lewisham?

The panel uses the indicators in SAFEGUARD to assess risk.

Essentially the multi-agency panel share information that is relevant and appropriate in order to assess the risk and the information shared is on a case by case, need by need basis. The information can come from a number or sources depending on the circumstances in each case.

To assist you, we can advise that the SAFEGUARD assessment is as follows –

S -Sexual Identity, Wellbeing and Choice
A -Absence, Truancy and Going Missing
F -Family and Home
E -Emotional and Physical Health
G -Gangs, Groups Age Gaps and Crime
U -Use of Technology and sexual bullying
A -Alcohol and Substances
R -Receipt of Unexplained Gifts or Money
D -Distrust of Authority Figures.

SAFEGUARD is further broken down into indicators which is what we look for in order to ascertain where the risk lies.

There is no recorded list of ‘types of data’ held by the MPS to refer to as per your request.

Q4 - What are the types of operational outcomes that can occur in relation to individuals profiled as part of the ‘Concern Hub’ or ‘MACE’ (e.g monitoring, targeted interventions)?

The Pre-Mace panel (previously Concern Hub) do not profile individuals. The information you have requested is not held.

Q5 - Do you hold an easily accessible and centrally held record of how many people have been referred to the ‘Concern Hub’ or ‘MACE’ in the Borough of Lewisham?

The MPS is able to confirm this information is available within SE-CU BCU.

Q6 - If yes, please provide: How many individuals have been referred to the Concern Hub or MACE in the Borough of Lewisham in the following years: 2022, 2021, 2020.

2020- 61 new referrals
2021- 72 new referrals
2022- 104 new referrals

Questions regarding Hillingdon Axis Project (HAP)

Q7 - In relation to your force’s involvement with the Hillingdon Axis project: Does your force provide data to the Hillingdon Axis Project?

The MPS is not required to provide context or opinion in answer a FOIA request. However, to assist you the MPS can confirm the answer to this question is yes.

To assist you further, the MPS can explain that Hillingdon Axis Project (HAP) are part of multi-agency meetings that take place. During those meetings, information is only shared between partners if relevant to the discussion. There is no set formula for how much information is shared however it must be proportionate to the concerns of the individual.

Q8 - Does your force carry out or assist with risk assessment, profiling or predictions as part of this project?

The MPS is not required to provide context or opinion in answer a FOIA request. However, to assist you the MPS can confirm the answer to this question is no.

Q9 - If yes, please provide What types of data are used to calculate risk assessments, profiles or predictions (e.g PNC criminal history data, nationality data, ethnicity data, education data, employment data, immigration status data, relationship status data, financial data)?

No information is held, please refer to the answer provided for Question Eight (8).