Operation Vanguard

Operation Vanguard has been in existence for over 10 years focusing on cash and valuables in transit robberies in London and has been successful in reducing these crimes. The industry recognizes the benefits and wish to support Operation Vanguard with a donation to ensure its continuation and enhancement. MOPAC approval is sought to accept a donation of £199,414 over two years.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is requested to approve the acceptance of a donation of £199,414 from SaferCash towards the running costs and activities of Operation Vanguard pursuant to section 93 of the Police Act 1996.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. In 2006/7 there were 523 Cash and Valuables in Transit (CViTs) robberies in London. Offending reached a high point in January 2007 with 84 CViT incidents. Almost £7 million was stolen from CVIT replenishments. The introduction of the Operation Vanguard model in London has led to significant reduction in crime and in 2018/19 there were only 43 (CViT) attacks in London with £759,509 stolen, a reduction of 89% since 2006/7. In 2006/7 the average number of CViT robberies per month was 44, while in 2018/19 this figure had fallen to 3.5 per month. The detection rate also improved dramatically after the introduction of Operation Vanguard.

1.2. Prior to the introduction of Operation Vanguard, insurance companies used by the CViT industry were threatening to stop insuring the delivery of money in London, such were the losses involved, and therefore the movement of cash and valuables would cease across the Capital.

1.3. Operation Vanguard is incorporated into Specialist Crime Tasking & Coordination (SCTaC). The unit will continue to work in partnership with the CViT industry, SaferCash and British Security Industry Association (BSIA) to react to dynamic intelligence to gather information to either prevent or support the investigation of commercial robbery offences, including the arrest of those responsible. SaferCash is a body created by the BSIA to work in partnership with law enforcement and industry to share intelligence to ensure effective and efficient intervention to reduce the overall risk and cost of crime to the industry, businesses and the wider community.

1.4. Operation Vanguard delivers against the purpose of the SaferCash partnership by providing a covert and overt response to suspicious incidents to gather intelligence, evidence, arrest offenders and/or disrupt such offences. The unit also provides support to Flying Squad which is responsible for the investigation into CViT commercial robberies with information & intelligence from Industry and police.

1.5. There are nominated Vanguard Boroughs across London. The agreement and partnership that has been established with each Vanguard Borough is that they individually nominate one double-crewed marked police vehicle to assist operation Vanguard. The priority of the crew remains responding to Borough incidents with a direction that during downtime they will cover CViT deliveries/collections etc within their Boroughs. The crew also provide an initial point of contact for the Vanguard Control Room to highlight any CViT issues/intelligence requiring a Borough response.

1.6. This is complimented with a co-ordinated approach to educating industry and the Police Service, as to current threats and risks - focusing on crime prevention, improving safer working practices, gathering intelligence and evidence.

1.7. Operation Vanguard are the recognised single point of contact for all external partnerships, including police forces across the South East region. Quarterly intelligence sharing meetings are held, hosted by industry and where a linked- series of crime is identified, break away working groups are quickly established to share the information.

1.8. This partnership enables both the MPS & CViT industry partners and the police to focus their resources in areas of risk to reduce offences, increase both public safety and confidence. Over the years, the industry has recognised the benefit to them of Operation Vanguard and have provided ad hoc financial and in-kind support. All parties wish to continue with the financial contribution that the industry members provide through SaferCash.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. £199,414 is being offered as a contribution towards the work of Operation Vanguard, especially the operational benefit of the Vanguard Control Room, now located within SCTaC.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. The overall cost of Operation Vanguard specific policing activities, both covert and overt, and the running of the Control Room costs is funded from existing budgets, with no ongoing costs after 2022.

3.2. The contribution of £98,476 for 20/21 & £100,938 for 21/22 will be used to continue with and complement the existing analytical support.

3.3. This new agreement is to continue and extend the current arrangement. CViT have been funding an analyst post costing £43,000. This did not cover the full cost to the MPS for the analytical support post holder. This new agreement covers the full cost for the existing post plus the full cost of a researcher. This funding is for two years.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. This proposal seeks approval to accept a contribution of £199,414 under the provisions of S.93 of the Police Act.

4.2. Clause 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation requires the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to approve all inward donations of £50k and above in value.

4.3. The arrangement will be formalized by the documented approval of a S.93 donation agreement. Publication of the agreement will be under the Elected Local Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2011.

4.4. Based on previous advice to the MPS Third Party Contracts Team, The Director of Legal Services have approved the legal position.

5. GDPR and Data Privacy

5.1. The MPS is subject to the requirements and conditions placed on it as a 'State' body to comply with the European Convention of Human Rights and the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018. Both legislative requirements place an obligation on the MPS to process personal data fairly and lawfully in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals.

5.2. Under Article 35 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Section 57 of the DPA 2018, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) become mandatory for organisations with technologies and processes that are likely to result in a high risk to the rights of the data subjects.

5.3. The Information Assurance and Information Rights units within MPS will be consulted at all stages to ensure the project meets its compliance requirements.

5.4. The project does not currently use personally identifiable data of members of the public, so there are no current GDPR issues to be considered. If the project uses personally identifiable data of members of the public at a later date DPIAs will be completed as needed.

6. Equality Comments

6.1. Due regard has been taken of the Public Sector Equality Duty under Sec 149 of the Equality Act 2010. Real consideration has been taken to assess equality impact caused by this decision including effective engagement and analysing relevant equality information. As a result, no negative impact has been identified to any individual and/or group safeguarded by a protected characteristic and to those who are not.

6.2. The activities of Operation Vanguard are business as usual policing activities that adhere to national and MPS law enforcement policies and guidance that have been developed with community advisers and as such the acceptance of the donation does not impact on staff or service users.

7. Background/supporting papers

7.1. The MPS report.