Cabinet Meeting on 20 June Making Staffordshire Safer- Automatic Number Plate Recognition

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1 Cabinet Meeting on 20 June 2012 Making Staffordshire Safer- Automatic Number Plate Recognition Report Summary from Robert Marshall, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community Safety Robbie Marshall said: We are strengthening our partnership with the police to make Staffordshire even safer and keep criminals out of our county. ANPR technology is a proven tool for combating serious and organised crime by catching criminals on the move. It is equally effective for stopping car tax and insurance dodgers whose low level crimes heap additional costs on the honest, law abiding motorist. 1. Keeping Staffordshire a place where people can live safely, increasingly free from crime, the causes of crime and the fear of crime is a joint priority outcome for Staffordshire County Council (SCC) and Staffordshire Police (SP). Over the past 12 months there have been nearly 5,000 fewer crimes in Staffordshire, a 7% reduction on the previous year. This makes Staffordshire one of the safest places to live in the country. 2. The Council is committed to reducing crime still further and over the next few months we will, with our partners, particularly Staffordshire Police, be introducing a number of targeted actions to make Staffordshire even safer. 3. Cabinet are asked today to approve the installation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition across the county. This technology, which, via cameras strategically positioned on our highways, can detect numbers-plates, send this information to a Control Centre where analysis is undertaken that indicates whether or not this vehicle needs to be stopped by the Police. This has proven to be very successful in other parts of the country. 4. Recent intelligence reports have highlighted that cross border criminals who use the major arterial routes to come into Staffordshire, commit a significant amount of crime and particularly serious acquisitive crime such as burglary and vehicle crime. ANPR has been proven to tackle this effectively. 5. It will help detect people who do not register, insure or tax their car, behaviour that is perceived as deeply unfair by many law abiding citizens in our communities. 6. With recent developments in ANPR technology there is now a solution available that can identify and track criminals allowing the authorities to intervene before, or use the data captured to build a case and catch the perpetrator after the crime has been committed. 1

2 7. Through collaboration between the County Council and Police there is an opportunity to strategically place fixed and mobile ANPR technology around the main arterial roads of the county which will make it harder for criminals to enter and commit crimes and improve road safety. The added benefit provided by the ability to locate mobile ANPR technology outside the main arterial routes will allow a greater flexibility and the ability to respond proactively to emerging issues, whether that be crime or road safety issues. Recommendation - I recommend: The County Council commits a one off capital payment of less than 200,000 ( 199,000) to introduce ANPR technology into Staffordshire. To work with Staffordshire Police, on a partnership basis, to deliver and implement ANPR technology across the county. 2

3 Local Members Interest N/A Cabinet 20 June 2012 Making Staffordshire Safer- Automatic Number Plate Recognition Recommendations of the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community Safety The County Council commits a one off capital payment of less than 200,000 ( 199,000) to introduce ANPR technology into Staffordshire. To work with Staffordshire Police, on a partnership basis, to deliver and implement ANPR technology across the county. Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director for People Reasons for Recommendations 1. Keeping Staffordshire a place where people can live safely, increasingly free from crime, the causes of crime and the fear of crime is a joint priority outcome for Staffordshire County Council (SCC) and Staffordshire Police (SP). To make this Outcome become a reality SCC and SP have been working closely together and sharing intelligence in a number of areas to combat criminality and make Staffordshire a safer, fairer and less attractive target for criminals and people who use our roads without insurance, MOTs and road tax and working to make the place even safer. 2. Staffordshire continues to be a safe place with nearly 5,000 fewer crimes in the last 12 months compared to the same period the previous year, which is a reduction of almost 7 percent. SCC and SP are working in partnership to continue this trend of falling crime. However, recent intelligence reports have highlighted that cross border criminality and criminals within Staffordshire using arterial routes, make up a significant proportion of the overall crime, particularly serious acquisitive crime offences (such as burglary of dwellings, vehicle crime) and other crime and has been particularly successful in tackling organised criminality. It must be further emphasised the support ANPR can also contribute to road safety, particularly in relation to vehicles with no insurance, no road tax, no MOT and vehicles being used by disqualified drivers. ANPR has also been very successful in tackling bogus workmen and officials who prey on vulnerable people. 3. This places greater emphasis on the requirement to develop a robust intelligence picture across Staffordshire and the region and implement pro-active responses to this growing problem of cross-border criminality. 4. With recent developments in Auto Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology there is now a solution available that can identify and track criminals allowing the authorities 3

4 to intervene before, or use the data captured to build a case and catch the perpetrator after the crime has been committed. 5. Through collaboration between SCC and SP there is an opportunity to strategically place fixed and mobile ANPR technology around the main arterial roads of the county which will make it harder for criminals to enter Staffordshire and commit crimes. The added ability to catch motorists who use our roads without tax, insurance or valid MOTs will also help improve road safety. The ability to locate mobile ANPR technology off the main arterial routes will also allow for greater flexibility and responsiveness to emerging issues, whether that be crime or road safety issues. Background 6. The Making Staffordshire Safer proposal is a jointly owned and jointly funded operation between Staffordshire County Council and Staffordshire Police to strategically locate ANPR cameras around our key arterial routes. The aim is to identify, capture intelligence about and ultimately catch the people involved in crime and organised crime. The technology will also bear down on low level offences such as driving without tax, insurance or MOTs, known to be a serious concern for people in Staffordshire. 7. While crime levels are low and falling across the county, as mentioned in the introduction, travelling offenders account for a considerable proportion of the detected crime in certain areas of Staffordshire, especially in the south. To provide this statement with context the table below illustrates the number of crimes committed per area by offenders that do not live in Staffordshire. Location Number of detected offences where offenders home address is outside Staffs Tamworth 504 Weston-under-Lizard (V 407 Festival) Cannock 358 Lichfield 240 Burntwood 67 Rugeley 67 Codsall 63 Wombourne 60 Stafford This totals over 1,800 crimes over a one year period and in some locations accounts for 20% of crimes committed in that area. 9. The ANPR unit will monitor a combination of 13 fixed camera sites with a maximum of 57 cameras in total and a further 8 mobile units to create a flexible and proactive crime reduction capability that adapts to the movements and operations of individuals and organisations involved in illegal activity. 4

5 10. The current proposal regarding the locations of the ANPR units has been based on Police intelligence from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) about the access routes used by criminals coming from surrounding areas and also the home locations of offenders that have committed crimes within Staffordshire. These locations have been strategically located across the whole of Staffordshire and are in line with current police intelligence and information. Mobile ANPR cameras provide additional flexibility should a problem be identified which is not covered by the arterial routes. In terms of the deployment of ANPR cameras, it has been agreed nationally that the locations of cameras are not publicised to increase their effectiveness. 11. The new cameras would need to be supported by a back office function (BOF) which would ensure that the flow of information about the vehicles involved in criminal activity and organised crime or low level motoring offence could be fed into the process. The data surrounding their movements would be analysed to ensure that the combination of the fixed and mobile ANPR units could be co-ordinated to maximise their impact. 12. The costs associated with the development and management of the BOF is being led and funded by the police, therefore it does not form part of this proposal. 13. It would be possible for the network of ANPR units to be implemented over the summer ready for use in September Over this period officers from across Staffordshire County Council (People and Place) and Staffordshire Police will be working together to deliver this new capability. Resources 14. The cost to the County Council is a one off capital payment of less than 200,000 ( 199,000). Benefits 15. The benefits of improving the ANPR framework for Staffordshire are clear and aligned to the strategic objectives of both organisations, they include: Reinforce the joint partnership arrangements between Staffordshire County Council and Staffordshire Police in making Staffordshire an even safer place. (In terms of both reduced crime and safer roads). Increased and better intelligence. Gaps will be filled providing a greater intelligence picture for the organisation to support and target resources into areas of identified need. This approach will also enhance crime reduction strategies which are being introduced across the county such as forensic marking. Future proof the framework for a considerable time to come and allowing for the upgrade to support the existing infrastructure. Same equipment throughout the region, savings on procurement, maintenance costs and future replacement/upgrade. Greater collaboration with neighbouring forces with regards to intelligence/ analytical products and administrative processes. 5

6 24/7 monitoring of the system by the police providing the back up for force reputation in relation to serious and organised crime and counter terrorism will enhance safety across Staffordshire. Joined up thinking in targeting OCGs (Organised Crime Groups) when they are most vulnerable, when travelling distances using vehicles across our entire road network. Reduced administrative costs with the reduction in post numbers and collaboration of a regional BOF. An opportunity to use existing available fixed assets at no costs. ANPR has the ability to tackle issues which cause disaffection within communities, such as vehicles being used with no insurance, no road tax and no MOT, so it has the ability to tackle crime across the continuum of crime, from the minor to the serious. This partnership arrangement also highlights Staffordshire County Council s commitment to making Staffordshire a safer and fairer place and is a particularly strong commitment in terms of tackling organised criminality, which has been identified as a key role for Local Authorities. 16. Next Steps To form a small project group from Staffordshire County Council and Staffordshire Police to deliver and implement this strategy. To deliver a comprehensive communication strategy in partnership with Staffordshire Police which emphasises that Staffordshire is an even safer place to live. The communication strategy will be lead by Staffordshire County Council. To deliver this network of ANPR cameras by September To develop a comprehensive performance framework (already in existence is an ability to identify the number of arrests, convictions, vehicle seizures and fixed penalty notices issued). The police will provide weekly updates as to the effectiveness of the ANPR cameras and this will highlight the arrests and prosecutions made. The police will also on a reactive basis pursue identified leads in relation to crime. Campaigns aimed at un-road worthy vehicles will be mounted in partnership with the police and highway authorities. This data will quickly demonstrate ANPR s effectiveness and will ensure accountability for both partners in terms of the delivery of ANPR. There are ongoing negotiations with police to explore opportunities under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). The development of a comprehensive performance framework will be a first of its type developed specifically for ANPR as there is not one which currently exists across the Country. 6

7 Appendix Impact Assessment Name of Policy/Project/Proposal: Making Staffordshire Safer- Automatic Number Plate Recognition Responsible officer: Mick Harrison Commencement date & expected duration September 2012 for 4 years Impact Assessment +ve/neutral/ -ve Further information [Degree of impact and signpost to where implications reflected within the report/main Assessment] Assessment next to Outcomes and impact areas Prosperity, knowledge, skills, aspirations +ve The implementation of ANPR will definitely enhance Staffordshire s reputation as a safe county and encourage businesses to remain and come into Staffordshire. Living safely +ve ANPR provides both a reactive and proactive capability and will enhance reassurance and safety throughout the county. Supporting vulnerable people +ve ANPR has been particularly successful in tackling bogus workers/officials who prey on vulnerable people. Supporting healthier living neutral Highways and transport networks +ve It enhances road safety in terms of identifying unroadworthy, uninsured and unlicenced vehicles; many of these do not have sufficient regards for safety on our roads. Learning, education and culture neutral Children and young people +ve The safety impact is for all our people and children and young people will benefit. Citizens & decision making/improved community involvement +ve Community groups, who have been consulted over ANPR, have welcomed its introduction. Physical environment including climate neutral change Maximisation of use of community neutral property portfolio Equalities impact Age +ve ANPR does not discriminate against anyone as a result of diversity and has no impact 7

8 whatsoever in terms of equalities. Disability +ve As above Ethnicity +ve As above Gender +ve As above Religion/Belief +ve As above Sexuality +ve As above Impact/implications Resource and Value for money In consultation with finance representative Approval is required to fund broadly 50% of the costs of the partnership with Staffordshire Police. It is proposed that a one-off contribution of up to 200k towards the costs outlined in paragraph 14 is made. As there are no earmarked financial resources set aside to finance this project, it will be necessary for Cabinet to approve an additional resource allocation of 200k. These costs are purely capital costs in terms of the ANPR cameras (both fixed and mobile). Gaps will be filled providing a greater intelligence picture for the organisation to support and target resources. The framework will be Future proofed for a considerable time to come and allowing for the upgrade to support the existing infrastructure. It is expected that there will be savings on procurement, maintenance costs and future replacement/upgrade. It is also expected that there will be reduced administrative costs with the reduction in post numbers and collaboration of a regional Back Office Function (BOF). There will be an opportunity to use existing available fixed assets at no costs. Risks identified and mitigation offered From corporate risk register categorisation Legal imperative to change In consultation with legal representative In terms of risks, the issue of civil liberties has been taken into account, but the principle of ANPR is to make our communities safer and fairer and law-abiding people have nothing to fear whatsoever. Where ANPR has been delivered in other parts of the country similar to how we are looking to develop here in Staffordshire, there have been no concerns raised by communities. None Author: Author s Name: Mick Harrison (Commissioner for Community Safety) Telephone No: (01785)