Item

Action

OPEN SESSION

1.

Apologies

Assistant Chief Constable (Operations Support).

2.

Matters Arising from Minutes

In referring to the minutes of the meeting held on 1 September 2004 concerning Item 6 (Vulnerable Witness Officers), it was agreed that to practically move and relocate officers with these skills would be impractical and the problem concerned the fair distribution of the VWO skills across the Force area. ACC(OS) to revisit the recommendations and develop a more viable solution that did not involve the physical movement of individual staff but the redistribution of the skill.

ACC(OS)

3.

Call Handling Update

Chief Officers were advised that a Consultancy Report (Wolfenden) had been received concerning resourcing levels in the call handling function. Difficulties had been experienced in both Command Centres during the previous weekend, with the volume and demand of 999 calls, with neighbouring forces being asked to assist with call handling. Chief Officers to consider more detailed call handling update from ACC(OS) at next meeting. ACC(O) to monitor Command Centre demand levels during the next seven days.

ACC(OS)

ACC(O)

4.

Visit to Avon and Somerset Constabulary

The Chief Constable presented to COG a matrix summarising the good practice learnt from the recent visit to Avon & Somerset Constabulary. The report contained a number of recommendations for improvement. These were assigned individually to Chief Officers.

Item

Action

5.

ACPO Lead for Gun Related Crime

Chief Officers considered correspondence received from the Chair of the ACPO Criminal Use of Firearms Group inviting the Force to nominate an ACPO lead for Gun Crime Prevention and Community Protection. It was agreed that ACC(OS) would be the lead for the Force and would write back to Commander Dick from the Committee.

ACC(OS)

6.

Police Reform Ministerial Steering Group

Chief Officers received a briefing update concerning

the development of the next stage of Police Reform. Chief Officers are due to attend a briefing from the Home Secretary and others on Thursday, 9 September 2004, in London and, following that briefing, more detailed discussions concerning the implications of reform would take place at future COG.

7.

Best Value Review Child Protection

The Deputy Chief Constable informed Chief Officer colleagues that following a recent HMIC Best Value inspection of the Child Protection function with Humberside, the current service had been graded as “fair” with there being a promising outlook for future improvements in the service. This was important and valuable feedback from HMIC and Chief Officers confirmed their commitment to delivering the recommendations of this very important Best Value Review.

8.

Best Value Review Child Protection

Chief Officers considered a specific review recommendation concerning the manner in which staff in the Child Protection function are selected, trained and distributed and also how the welfare arrangements of such staff were addressed in a structured manner. A report on the subject by Head of Crime Management Branch made a number of recommendations concerning the current tenure policy within the Family Protection Team. In considering the principal recommendation that tenure should cease, Chief Officers considered that the removal of tenure from specialist departments across the force on a piecemeal, one by one basis, was not the best way to proceed and that this request be remitted through ACO(S) to Personnel Branch who are currently undertaking a review of tenure across the Force as a whole.

ACO(S)

9.

Promat Project Review Document

Chief Officers received a post project review document prepared by Chief Inspector Edwards of the Promat Identification System. Chief Officers placed on record their thanks to Chief Inspector Edwards for undertaking the work and noted the very favourable comments with regard to the implementation and practical operational use of Promat. It was agreed that post project reviews should be more robustly included in the project management system of the Force as a standard activity. DCC, as Chair of Force Project Board to implement.

DCC

10.

Community Support Officers

Chief Officers considered a paper prepared by Head of Support Services in response to the Government's recent announcement of the next round of funding for Community Support Officers. Following discussion, it was agreed that the Force would submit an outline application for 36 CSOs to be employed during 2005 to 2007, but only after discussion with the Chair of the Police Authority. Chief Constable to discuss with Chair of the Authority. ACO(S) to prepare outline application.

CC

ACO(S)

11.

Training and Supervision Board

ACO(S) reminded Chief Officer colleagues that, as Chair of the Training and Supervision Board, it was important that the business user requirement of Chief Officers, Divisions and Branches was properly represented at this Board and he invited colleagues to include future meeting dates within their diary and to attend where possible.

Chief Officers to diary meeting dates.

12.

Membership of the British National Party

Chief Officers received a report from Head of Personnel providing an overview of national developments with regard to membership of the British National Party. It was noted that membership of the BNP by police officers is prohibited and now widely established as such across all forces. Chief Officers discussed issues surrounding the membership of support staff and it was agreed that consultation would take place with Staff Associations to determine their view. Chief Constable to write to Staff Associations.

CC

Item

Action

13.

Chief Officer Visits

ACC(O) briefed Chief Officer colleagues concerning the funeral on Tuesday of this week of Sgt David Rickalls from A Division. He placed on record his thanks to the Division for the most excellent arrangements that had been put in place for Sgt Rickalls' funeral which had been a credit to the Division and to the Force.

14.

Probationer Training

ACO(S) briefed colleagues concerning the further development of probationer training across the region. It was proposed that Humberside would look more closely at local arrangements with West Yorkshire and other regional police forces and in this respect it was proposed that one trainer from Humberside be seconded to the pilot West Yorkshire Police programme. This was agreed by Chief Officers. ACO(S) to progress.

ACO(S)

CLOSED SESSION

15.

Vetting Policy for the Police Community

Chief Officers received a report from the Information Security Officers updating them concerning developments in the ACPO National Vetting Policy for the Police Community. It was noted that there will be a future requirement to undertake widespread vetting of all employees of Humberside Police as well as changes to new employees. Following discussion, it was agreed that this piece of work needed to be put on a project based footing and the DCC was asked to establish a project group to scope the work involved. DCC to commission project group.

DCC