PCD 1653 Acceptance of funding from NHSE for Stalking Threat Assessment Centre

PCD 1653 Acceptance of funding from NHSE for Stalking Threat Assessment Centre

This decision is to accept £480,000 of funding from NHS England to expand delivery of the Stalking Support Service in 2024/25 and 2025/26. MOPAC will use this funding primarily to uplift Stalking Advocacy support to Victims to enable an increased number of cases to be managed through the Stalking Support Service, with a particular focus on those, and their associated victims, who have received a Stalking Protection Order.  

This decision aligns with additional funding from NHSE to deliver mental health interventions to the perpetrators.  A proportion of the funding will be allocated to managing this uplift in delivery, to MPS or MOPAC.  

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Accept funding of £480,000 from NHS England, to be allocated to activity associated with the Stalking Threat Assessment Centre and for budgets to be updated accordingly. 

2. Vary the existing grant agreement with Suzy Lamplugh Trust to a maximum of £240,000 per year for 2 years (2024/25 and 2025/26) to deliver stalking advocacy support.  

3. To note that further work is underway to determine the resources needed within MOPAC and the MPS to manage the uplift in delivery. Once clarified a proportion of the funding will be allocated to MOPAC or the MPS to manage this.  The cost will be met within the £480,000 funding provided by NHS England. 

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1.1 Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is at the heart of the Mayor’s priorities for London.  This proposal is aligned with the Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan and VAWG Strategy objectives to reduce risks to victims by intervening earlier to target and address the behaviours of perpetrators of stalking, improving the CJS response to stalking reports, and improving the use and effectiveness of protective orders. 

1.2 The Stalking Threat Assessment Centre (STAC) is a multi-agency, pan-London, victim-focussed response to stalking, looking at improving the identification of and response to stalking reports in London, across the criminal justice system and health sector through rehabilitative interventions for all types of stalkers (MOPAC funding set out in PCD 1307 and DMPCD 1446).   We are seeking to use the additional funding as set out within this decision to extend provision to a wider number of perpetrators, alongside supporting more victims, especially at an earlier stage (including those on Stalking Protection Orders).   

2. Issues for consideration  

2.1 Since their introduction in 2020 Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) have provided an additional risk management tool for persistent stalkers; they also provide an important opportunity for early intervention through a focus on behavioural change leading to a reduction in the escalation of cases. 

2.2 The introduction of stalking interventions for those subject to SPOs will safeguard victims and reduce risk.  Funded by NHSE, Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust will offer brief, low intensity interventions to perpetrators to manage fixation and reduce breaches of order and recidivism of stalking behaviour.  Interventions will cover the stalking and intrusive behaviour, the conditions of the order, and consequences; it also provides a range of self-help tools to support the person in living within the SPO conditions that are present. 

2.3 Funding provided by NHSE to MOPAC will allow for an uplift in the existing arrangement with Suzy Lamplugh Trust under STAC to ensure parity of provision for victims putting in place victim's advocacy focused on individual safety planning and tailored holistic support. Funding will provide for additional advocates as well as support costs for extending the remit/ scope of the direct intervention undertaken by STAC.   It is aimed that the service will lead to improved feelings of safety, improved health and wellbeing outcomes for victims and victims feeling empowered to self-advocate and to access services.  

Recommendations following Casey Review & Engage 

2.4 The Baroness Casey Review highlighted key recommendations, including a new offer to women and children with the Met expected to develop a new enhanced offer to women, where they aim to create more victim-centred approaches and to work more closely and in a more integrated way with non-police specialist domestic abuse services.   

2.5 The New Met for London two-year plans also focusses on developing a new operating model that prioritises this critical work and helps target the perpetrators. 

2.6 STAC is a key partner to help the Met address the above Baroness Casey Review recommendation and the New Mets Plan for London, as a multiagency service the initiative aims to improve responses to stalking across the criminal justice system and the health sector through rehabilitative intervention for stalkers, while placing victims at the centre of their work. 

3. Financial Comments  

3.1 This Decision seeks approval to accept up to £480,000 in funding from NHSE across 2023/24, 24/25 and 2025/26, and to extend the current grant agreement with Suzy Lamplugh Trust currently in place (PCD 1307, and DMPCD 1446) for the delivery of victim advocacy support to deliver  early stalking interventions as an extension on STAC in 2024/25 and 2025/26 up to a maximum of £480,000.  

3.2 Further work is underway to determine the resources needed within MOPAC and the MPS to manage the uplift in delivery. Once clarified a proportion of the funding will be allocated to MOPAC or the MPS to manage this.  The grant awarded to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust will be reduced by a corresponding amount 

3.3 The 2024/25 and 2025/26 budgets will be updated to reflect the additional income and expenditure. 

4. Legal Comments  

4.1 MOPAC’s general powers are set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). Section 3(6) of the 2011 Act provides that MOPAC must “secure the maintenance of the metropolitan police service and secure that the metropolitan police service is efficient and effective.” Under Schedule 3, paragraph 7 (1) MOPAC has wide incidental powers to “do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of the Office.” Paragraph 7(2) (a) provides that this includes entering into contracts and other agreements.  

4.2 Section 143 (1) (b) of the Anti-Social, Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides for MOPAC to provide or commission services “intended by the local policing body to victims or witnesses of or other persons affected by offences and anti-social behaviour.” Section 143 (3) specifically allows MOPAC to make grants in connection with such arrangements and any grant may be made subject to any conditions that MOPAC thinks appropriate. 

4.3 There are further relevant powers set out in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 at sections 17(1) (a) to (c) which place MOPAC under a duty to exercise its functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on, and the need to do all it can to prevent, crime and disorder (including anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment), reoffending in its area, and the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances in its area. The proposed arrangements are consistent with MOPAC’s duties in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. 

4.4 Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve all bids for grant funding. 

4.5 These recommendations are in line with the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent. Legal advice is not considered necessary for this Decision paper. 

5. Commercial Issues  

5.1 This Decision requests approval to accept funding of £480,000 from NHS England (NHSE).  

5.2 Further, this Decision requests approval to modify the existing Grant Agreement with Suzy Lamplugh Trust by a maximum of £240,000 per year for 2 years (£480k total).   MOPAC has grant funded SLT for the delivery of advocacy support most recently in 2020-21 to the value of £171,000, uplifted in 2021 and again in 2022 bringing its value to £540,925.  A further Grant was awarded in 2023, for delivery between 2023 and 2025 to the value £490,000.  

5.2 In accordance with 4.8 of MOPAC’s Scheme of Consent and Delegation, the DMPC can approve bids for grant funding made, which in this case refers to the acceptance of the funding from NHSE, and the strategy for awarding individual grants, which in this case refers to the modification of the existing grant with Suzy Lamplugh Trust. 

5.3 MOPAC makes no commitment to fund the organisations listed above until the Grant Modification letter has been signed by both parties. This will detail the new performance and payment schedules, in line with previous arrangements. 

5.4 As this Decision relates to a grant agreement, this sits outside the framework of public procurement legislation. The Grant Modification to the Grant Agreement will be executed in compliance with MOPAC’s Scheme of Consent and Delegation. 

6. Public Health Approach  

6.1 This approach is informed by the Mayor’s public health approach to VAWG. This programme seeks to extend STAC by intervening with perpetrators on SPOs and by providing support to victims.  

7. GDPR and Data Privacy  

7.1 MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

8. Equality Comments  

8.1 MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

8.2 Providers will be required to have due regard to the protected characteristics of the people and communities relevant to this piece of work. As part of the quarterly performance monitoring of each service we collect demographics information, which helps us to understand who is accessing each service and how any barriers to accessing may be overcome. 

8.3 These programmes receiving funding focus on the delivery of interventions for perpetrators of stalking and domestic abuse. Stalking and domestic abuse are gendered crimes which disproportionately affect women and girls. This is not to say that victims of these crimes cannot be male however women are more likely than men to be victims of stalking.   

9. Background/supporting papers 

1. None