PCD 1216 Home Office funding for MPS County Lines (Op Orochi)

PCD 1216 Home Office funding for MPS County Lines (Op Orochi)

This decision seeks approval to accept the Home Office offer of grant funding for the three years 2022/23 – 2024/25 of up to £13,000,000 per year, plus an additional £900,000 for 2022/23. The funding will support the on-going work of the MPS County Lines Task Force – Operation Orochi. The operation is designed to reduce county-lines related violence across London and County Forces driven by intelligence and determined by levels of threat, risk and harm.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:  

Acceptance of Home Office funding grant (£13,900,000 in FY22/23, £13,000,000 in FY23/24 and FY 24/25) to undertake a range of activities to combat County Lines drugs supply and the threat, risk and harm associated with it.

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

1. Introduction and background

1. 1. This is a continuation of funding previously approved by MOPAC decisions PCD 726, PCD785, and PCD990.

1. 2. The current grant funding ceased on 31/03/2022 and the grant offered for continuation will be for the three financial years 2022/23 – 2024/25.

1. 3.  County Lines is a business model for the supply of controlled drugs with an estimated annual value in excess of £800m nationally.

2. Issues for consideration

1. 1. The grant funding will enable the continuation of the existing structure of Operation Orochi, as well as enabling it to evolve and innovate in order to ensure that it remains ahead of the curve in tackling county lines offending. The project has a proven track record, with 715 county lines closed and 576 line holders charged since the unit’s inception in November 2019.

1. 2. The pursuance of evidence-based methodology to tackle violence & homicide fuelled by drug supply networks in London presents major benefits to the MPS and Londoners. The funds sought will boost MPS output in combatting violence & homicide linked to drug supply.

• 3. The aims of Operation Orochi are
• To reduce violence in the capital by targeting London-based high harm offenders who are engaged in drug supply using county lines, thereby preventing the violence and exploitation that is endemic in this criminality; 
• To increase public confidence that police are taking action against Gangs and county lines networks within London;
• To increase Criminal Justice System (CJS) outcomes with increased operational effectiveness and productivity. Use of all appropriate legislation such as modern slavery will be considered;
• To enhance and develop existing operational partnerships with County Forces.

1. 4. The proposal is fully funded from the Home Office grants for the duration of three years. The funding will be utilised to meet pay, overtime, equipment and training costs.

3. Financial Comments

1. 1. This proposal seeks approval to accept upto £39,900,000 of Home Office grant funding over the three year period 2022/23-2024/25. The annual grant of £13,000,000 will support the funding of 121  officers and staff as well as overtime, operational equipment and training.   A further grant funding of £900,000 for 2022/23 only will support the continuation of existing work to tackle county lines and serious violence through the use of ANPR technology.

4. Legal Comments
   1. This grant will be paid to MOPAC by the Home Office in the exercise of power conferred upon the Secretary of State pursuant to section 169 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and section 48 of the Police Act 1996 to make awards of grant funding.

1. 2. The proposed acceptance by MOPAC of the grant funding is permitted under Schedule 3, Paragraph 7 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

1. 3. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the DMPC has delegated authority to approve all bids for grant funding made and all offers made of grant funding.

5. Commercial Issues

1. 1. The MPS assure that any purchases of equipment and training will be in accordance with MOPAC approved compliant procurement routes.

6. GDPR and Data Privacy

1. 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. 

1. 2. The MPS assure that current practices are GDPR compliant and any new activity within Operation Orochi will be considered against the DPIA principles to ensure continued compliance.

7. Equality Comments

1. 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.

1. 2. The MPS assure that an equality screening exercise was carried out which identified no negative impact towards protected and non-protected characteristic groups.

1. 3. The MPS assure that this project will contribute towards the ‘Narrow social, economic and health inequalities’ pillar of the London Anchor Institutions Charter. The supply of drugs is known to disproportionately impact on deprived sections of society, with Class A addiction being significantly more prevalent in areas with high levels of social deprivation, and lack of opportunity in these areas can also result in young people being drawn into a life of crime.

8. Background/supporting papers

Appendix 1 MPS Report - County Lines – Operation Orochi