49

REPORT OF THE SUSSEX POLICE AUTHORITY

The Sussex Police Authority held its Annual Meeting at Pelham House, , on Thursday 6 June 2002. Attendances:

Mr D O Rogers (appointed Chair) Mrs M G Bishop, Mr K C Bodfish OBE, Miss M Dean, Mr M Dunn (appointed Vice-Chairman), Mr R J Emerson, Mr J Mortimer, Mr C H Marsh, Mr I Scotland, Mrs A Swain, Mr G T Theobald OBE, Mrs M C Turner and Dr J M M Walsh RD.

1 Deputy Chief

1.1 The Police Authority congratulated Mrs Maria Wallis QPM on her appointment as of Devon and Cornwall with effect from 1 July 2002. On behalf of the Authority, the Force and the people of Sussex, the Chair acknowledged the huge amount of work that Mrs Wallis had undertaken over the past eight years since she came to Sussex as Assistant Chief Constable (Crime) in November 1994, and the tremendous achievements that had resulted from her hard work. In particular, Mrs Wallis had led the Force as acting Chief Constable last year during a difficult period and had helped raise staff morale and make steady improvements in Force performance which are continuing.

1.2 The Police Authority thanked Mrs Wallis for all that she had done, especially on improving Force performance, and for her enormous overall contribution to policing in Sussex and wished her every success for the future.

1.3 Assistant Chief Constable Nigel Yeo will be acting until a successor to Mrs Wallis is appointed.

2 Force Performance 2001/2002

2.1 The Police Authority was pleased to note that the performance information now available for the Performance Plan year 2001/2002 showed that the encouraging trends seen since the middle of 2001/2002 had been maintained with three of the main targets being achieved (reductions in burglaries and vehicle crime and increased detection of violent crime) and another being very close to target (detection of total crime). Importantly, the information showed that, for the first time in five years, total crime in Sussex had reduced and was now lower than the previous two years. There had been a reduction of 1.3%, against a target of a 3% reduction, which represented 1,800 fewer recorded crimes than the previous year. Sussex is believed to be one of only five Forces to have achieved a reduction in crime levels in 2001/2002.

2.3 The Authority was also encouraged by the improvement in the overall detection rate – 25.5% of crime detected against a target of 26%. Five of the nine policing divisions across Sussex had exceeded the target and the other four divisions had been very close to the target. Performance had been very consistent across the Force area.

2.4 On domestic burglaries, the target of reducing burglaries by 4% had been more than met with burglaries being reduced by 10.4% (880 fewer crimes than in the previous year). This significant reduction followed two previous successful years so that, over a three year period, burglary in Sussex had been reduced by 31% which represented 3,408 fewer crimes. This was a significant achievement.

50 SUSSEX POLICE AUTHORITY

2.5 Although a target of detecting 18% burglaries had been set, only 14.2% had been detected, but this needed to be seen in context with the significant reduction in the numbers of burglaries.

2.6 While the target for reducing violent crime in a public place had been set at 5%, incidents had increased by 2.6% to a total of 19,879 recorded incidents across Sussex. A slightly smaller increase had been recorded in all violent crime. Some of this increase was considered to be due to improved recording practices as this was the first year that the data had been collected. Elsewhere in the country much greater increases in public place violent crime are being reported. The 5% reduction target has been retained for the current year and will, therefore, require an even greater focus from divisions and their partner agencies in 2002/03.

2.7 The target of detecting 63% of all violent crimes had been exceeded with 67.4% being detected. Eight of the nine policing divisions had achieved the target with Division (Mid-Sussex and Wealden areas) in particular detecting 81.6% of violent crime in that division. Violent crime ranges from common assault to the most serious of offences and to detect two out of every three such crimes across the Force area was an excellent achievement which was unlikely to be paralleled nationally.

2.8 On vehicle crime, the target of reducing such crime by 6% had been exceeded with a reduction of 10.7% to a total of 21,240 recorded vehicle crimes across Sussex. Concentrated efforts had seen a significant drop in the amount of vehicle crime with the reduction target being achieved for a second year. The Force was well on the way to meeting the five year target of a 23% reduction.

2.9 The detection rate target for vehicle crime was raised from 8% to 10% in 2001/2002. Despite extensive efforts, however, only 8% of vehicle crimes had been detected.

2.10 A target had been set of making an arrest at 80% of domestic violence incidents where a power of arrest exists. Arrests had been recorded at 74.2% of such incidents. While short of the target, this figure had steadily improved throughout the year and was an improvement of 8.4% over the previous 12 months. The target remains at 80% for the current year.

2.11 On racially aggravated crime, the target had been to detect 66% of all racially aggravated crime. 42.9% had been detected, but this represented an increase of 10.2% over the previous year. It is now felt that 66% had been a somewhat aspirational target. Improved data now available has enabled the target to be re-set to 49% for the current year, rising back to 66% by 2004/05.

2.12 On response to 999 calls, 84.8% had been answered within ten seconds against a target of 90%. This was against a backdrop of an increase of 11% in the volume of calls, closure of the room dealing with 999 calls for five months for refurbishment, and staffing difficulties in the Communications Department. All these issues had been addressed during the year and performance for the last three months of 2001/2002 had reached 89.9%.

2.13 Total road collisions showed a slight rise over 2000/2001. However, the Force priority in this area concentrates on the number of serious or fatal crashes as opposed to collisions. These showed a reduction over the past year from 1,040 to 1,020. The Force remains on course to achieve the DETR target by 2010.

51 SUSSEX POLICE AUTHORITY

2.14 On Class A drugs arrests, no target was set for 2001/2002. However, the number of offenders dealt with for the supply of Class A drugs per 1,000 population had increased by 22%. Increased attention is being paid to the supply of Class A drugs at Divisional and Departmental level. [This is dealt with further in paragraph 4 of this report.]

2.15 The Police Authority was pleased that the significant improvements in Force performance over the past 18 months had been recognised by the Home Office Minister, Mr John Denham MP, who, in dealing with questions in the House of Commons, had referred to Sussex as one of the most improved Forces in England and Wales. Home Office national data on crime rates, expected to be released in June/July this year, combined with the British Crime Survey data, is anticipated to provide clear evidence that Sussex is one of the most improving Forces in the country.

2.16 The Police Authority welcomed the very good news about the continued improvements in performance and asked the Chief Constable to ensure that all staff are made aware of the Authority’s appreciation for all of the efforts put in to improving Force performance.

3 Performance Plan for Policing Sussex 2003/2004 : Proposed Timetable

3.1 The Home Office has revised the guidance on the publication of Best Value Performance Plans so that they now need to be published by 30 June each year (instead of 31 March). Also, the deadline for the Auditors’ Best Value Report has been changed from 30 June to 31 December each year. However, the requires the Police Authority to issue its Annual Policing Plan before the beginning of the financial year and the Best Value Performance Plan is required to form part of the Annual Policing Plan. In practice, this means that the Police Authority needs to approve the final content of the Performance Plan, including the Best Value Performance Plan, by 31 March. The Plan should then be published between 31 March and 30 June, but the Authority does not need to wait until 30 June to publish. The Authority will, therefore, continue to publish the Performance Plan for Policing Sussex on 31 March each year.

3.2 The Police Authority has agreed the timetable for consultation and production of the 2003/2004 Plan. Initial feedback on the existing Plan will be gathered, together with suggested topics and any additional government guidance for inclusion, and a draft framework Plan submitted to the Police Authority on 3 October 2002. The draft Plan will then be circulated to Police Community Consultative Groups (PCCGs), Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) and the wider community for comment and an amended draft submitted to the Authority’s Best Value Steering Group (BVSG) for consideration at its November meeting.

3.3 The Police Authority will consider the revised draft at its meeting on 19 December 2002. There will then be a further opportunity for PCCGs and CDRPs to comment on the draft. The BVSG will consider the final draft at its meeting on 22 January 2003 before submission to the Police Authority on 16 February 2003 for approval. The Plan will then be published in hard copy and on the Internet on 31 March 2003.

4 Responding to the Crack Cocaine Problem in Sussex

4.1 The Police Authority has been informed about the crack cocaine problem in Sussex and the action being taken by the Force to deal with it, which is supported by the Authority. 52 SUSSEX POLICE AUTHORITY

Background

4.2 Cocaine is a Class A drug regulated by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. It mainly originates from South America, where it is produced, and all supplies in the UK are illegally imported. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant which gives the user a feeling of exhilaration, confidence and excitement. The effects last for about thirty minutes and continued use can lead to addiction.

4.3 Crack cocaine is cocaine which is made into a smokeable form known as 'rocks'. This 'rock' is then smoked, which provides a very quick method of absorbing the drug into the body, creating an extremely intense but short-lived euphoria. There is danger of this leading to almost immediate risk of addiction and prolonged use of crack cocaine causes severe depression, extreme anti-social behaviour, increased aggression and paranoia. The drug has a major corrosive impact on communities, characterised by extreme violence and escalating crime.

Growth of Crack Cocaine

4.4 Historically, cocaine has been seen as a recreational drug of choice amongst more affluent classes , but since the early 1990s there has been a growth of its derivative, crack. Initially this was confined to America where an explosion of its use was seen in the inner cities leading to high levels of crime by users in order to obtain money to fund their habit, and also associated violence amongst users and dealers.

4.5 During the late 1990s, crack cocaine became more prevalent in the cities of the , including London and Bristol. A growing trade in the importation of cocaine from Jamaica took hold in these areas with the cocaine being 'cooked' into crack in safe houses and then quickly distributed to other addresses and supplied to street dealers. During this time the price of crack continued to reduce, with a single rock (weighing approximately 0.2g) costing about £20, making it widely available. Inner city areas saw a steep rise in violence, including an escalation in the use of firearms, which led to a rise in shootings and murders amongst competing dealerships, and against those who had built up drug debts. In London, the Service (MPS) set up Operation Trident to try to combat this criminality, which is predominately focused on 'bad-on-bad' shootings. It is believed that the displacement effect of this operation, together with the MPS's Operation Crackdown (an initiative to disrupt crack cocaine dealers in the London area) led to some of this criminality moving out into the provinces.

4.6 Initially, little crack was seen in Sussex, but over the past two years the Force started to see a steep rise in seizures. In August 2000 the Intelligence Unit identified a group of Caribbean nationals who had moved from London to set up a network in Sussex to supply crack cocaine. Their way of operating involved a short supply chain between importation and street dealing, and part of their operation was to arrange the importation of drugs via couriers into Gatwick or Heathrow Airports. The couriers would then be met and taken to safe houses where the cocaine was processed into crack. Other couriers would then deliver relatively small amounts of crack to houses in Sussex towns (known as 'crack houses'), from where users would be supplied. Particular policing difficulties arose due to the method of transportation of the drugs. A typical method would be for females to conceal small amounts of the drug internally. In addition, the dealers were prepared for the crack houses to be raided by the police and had the ability to quickly re-establish their business in alternative premises.

53 SUSSEX POLICE AUTHORITY

4.7 From this initial small start, crack cocaine dealing has increased significantly in Sussex with 30 addresses identified as crack houses by 2001, and their locations spreading to , , Mid-Sussex, Wealden and as well as Brighton & . By 2002, the total number of crack houses has grown to nearly 80 in Sussex with about 15 operating at any one time and covering all parts of the Force area.

4.8 In Sussex, violence associated with the emergence of crack cocaine activity has increased over the past two years, with a number of serious assaults occurring involving the use of firearms. This growth has been mirrored nationally with virtually every UK police force suffering similar problems. Current intelligence in relation to the importation of cocaine has identified that each commercial flight from Jamaica into our international airports carries a number of couriers who have swallowed or concealed cocaine internally, or have the drug hidden in their baggage.

Sussex Police Response

4.9 In 2001 the extent of the problem in Sussex was identified and Operation Sceptre was established to provide a strategic overview of the issues, develop the intelligence, and enable an operational response at all levels (Divisional, Force and National).

4.10 In every division of Sussex Police a number of operations have, and are being, conducted to disrupt the locations where crack dealing is taking place, including premises and public places. This has included some excellent work with our partner agencies, particularly the local authorities and Health Service. The Police consider it essential to remove the visible signs which blight the community through swift disruptive action, as well as the medium term operations to prosecute dealers and organisers in this evil trade.

4.11 There have also been a number of targeted operations against the dealers using a variety of techniques to disrupt. In particular, successful operations have been carried out in Brighton, Eastbourne and Worthing resulting in the recovery of drugs and numerous arrests.

4.12 Sussex Police also work closely with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, the Home Office Immigration Service and other police forces to reduce the flow of cocaine through . There is regular liaison with neighbouring forces to ensure all information and intelligence is shared, and that the Force learns from best practice.

4.13 Operation Sceptre has been adopted as a policing priority for the Force, concentrating divisional and force level resources to deal with the problem and the Force’s Intelligence Bureau and the Crime & Drugs Unit have been dedicated to disrupting those involved.

Conclusions

4.14 The Police Authority has welcomed the fact that this growing problem has been identified early in Sussex and that Sussex Police are already very active and determined to prevent continued escalation to the levels currently identified in London and other major cities in the UK. The Police Authority has endorsed the approach adopted by Sussex Police aimed at identifying those dealing in this highly addictive and dangerous drug, with its associated violence and escalating crime, and disrupting their activities wherever

54 SUSSEX POLICE AUTHORITY

possible. Working in partnership with communities and other agencies is a key to successful action to counter the problem.

4.15 The Authority has welcomed the partnership working locally with communities and all agencies involved to counter the problems of crack cocaine and has repeated its concerns at the importance of appropriate and timely treatment facilities being available. The Authority has referred its concerns to the and the Association of Police Authorities and has endorsed the need for effective partnership with Health and other agencies locally in Sussex and at national level.

DAVID ROGERS

Chair

6 June 2002

spa\reports\Jun602SPA-ReportToCouncil