MASIP – Stalking Threat Assessment Centre

This report requests approval to fund project management and delivery costs for London’s Stalking Threat Assessment Centre for one month (March 2020), part of the national Multi-Agency Stalking Interventions Programme funded by the Home Office Police Transformation Fund which comes to an end on 29 February 2020.

The Chief Executive Officer is recommended to approve £106,053 funding towards continuation of project management and delivery costs for one month between 1 to 31 March 2020.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. In 2017 the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) were awarded £4.159m from the Home Office Police Transformation Fund (PTF) for the delivery of the Multi-Agency Stalking Interventions Programme (MASIP). PCD 291 approved the acceptance of PTF funding allocations.

1.2. MASIP is a proof of concept model programme to share learning and best practice across three Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) areas (London, Hampshire, and Cheshire) to test out intervention programmes for stalking perpetrators. MASIP supports closer and more coordinated working arrangements between services at a local level, showing the value of cooperation and information sharing in responding to stalking. The underlying purpose of the project is to support the development of an evidence-based response to the management of stalking perpetrators to reduce the risk to victims and the community.

1.3. This is being delivered over a three year period from 2017 to 2020. Suzy Lamplugh Trust (SLT) are the appointed Project Management Office (PMO) supporting delivery across all PCCs. The programme is governed contractually by way of a Collaborative Agreement, of which SLT; MOPAC; MPS; Cheshire; and Hampshire are signatories.

1.4. Other key partners also involved in all MASIP programmes include Probation and local health trusts, with contractual/grant agreements in place between each PCC and their key partners.

1.5. All MASIP project areas went operational at the beginning of September 2018 and are funded up to end of February 2020, when PTF funding comes to an end.

2. Issues for Consideration

2.1. Decisions on funding from April 2020 will be presented to the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in due course. This decision relates to one month of funding to ensure continuity of service until the start of the next financial year.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. Estimated costs for for one month for the delivery of MASIP through STAC is £106,053. Please see table below for a full breakdown:

3.2. The budget will be funded from the 2019/20 MOPAC budget.

4. Legal Comments

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 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.

Section 143 (1) (b) of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides an express power for MOPAC, as a local policing body, to provide or commission services “intended by the local policing body to help victims or witnesses of, or other persons affected by, offences and anti-social behaviour.”

The recommendations in this decision are in line with the legislation and in line with MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation as set out below.

In line with section 5 of MOPAC’s Scheme of Consent and Delegation, the Chief Executive has authority for the:

• approval of business cases for revenue or capital expenditure for MOPAC of £50,000 to £499,999 (section 5.5);

• budget virements or movements thin the MOPAC budget of £50,000 to £499,999 (section 5.5);

5. Commercial Issues

5.1. The current programme outlined in section 1.2-1.5 above is governed by way of a Collaborative Agreement in place between MOPAC; SLT; and all PCC areas. This agreement comes to an end on 29th February 2020 and all parties will receive applicable termination letters in due course.

5.2. In order for the delivery of MASIP-STAC to continue for one month in March 2020 and avoid disruption to service delivery, it is recommended a direct grant award be made between MOPAC and SLT.

5.3. Agreement will then be sought between MOPAC and MPS for the continued delivery of MASIP-STAC for one month in March 2020, which will include funding amount and financial requirements. This will also include a requirement for any existing contracts/agreements in place with MPS’ key partners to be varied to accommodate the extension of the programme to 31st March 2020.

6. Public Health Approach

6.1. Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a significant public health issue, costing the health care system £1.3 billion a year. Domestic abuse (Drive) and stalking (MASIP) have significant and enduring impacts on individual’s physical health and mental wellbeing. Both Drive and MASIP seek to intervene with perpetrators and provide support to victims (and their children). Both Drive and MASIP aim to hold perpetrators accountable for their behaviour as well as increasing the visibility of perpetrator responses to these forms of VAWG. MASIP has a health engagement element within the model (as a treatment option where appropriate for individuals who have engaged in stalking offending behaviour), and both programmes work in partnership with health, social care, criminal justice agencies and the voluntary sector to manage the risks posed by these individuals and seek to reduce repeat victimisation.

7. GDPR and Data Privacy

7.1. The programme uses personally identifiable data of members of the public. GDPR issues are identified and mitigations are in place through the associated Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) currently being completed by the provider, who is the data controller for the programme.

8. Equality Comments

8.1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public-sector equality duty set out in section 149(2) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation; 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.

9. Background/supporting papers

PCD 291

PCD 559