THE MET COMMISSIONER'S REPORT for 1987
01 January 1991
THE MET COMMISSIONER'S REPORT for 1987
bacdoc June=1991
The following is a summary of the main points in the report.
In the review of 1987 Imbert strictly covers the force goals set at the
beginning of the year. He notes that there was a fall of 4% in the number
of notifiable offences. In a new departure, internal inspections of the
Met are to be supplemented by inspections of `parts of my force' by Her
Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary (HMI).
Under the heading `force goals' the section on neighbourhood watch schemes
states that over 1 million households are now covered.
During 1987 there were 11,594 recorded offences of street robbery an
increase of 13% over the previous year. Nearly 56% of robberies take place
in 16 of London 76 divisions.
In 1987 over half of the 7,413 adults arrested for possession of a
controlled drug received a formal caution, usually for cannabis.
The number of racial incidents rose by 26% to 2,179 reported offences, with
a clear-up rate of 30%
The number of reported sexual offences remained static, though the number
of reported rapes dropped some 11%. At the end of 1987 there were four
dedicated suites for the examination of victims of sexual abuse, including
domestic violence; four more were due to be opened in 1988. The average
monthly figure for women victims of domestic disputes rose in the second
half of 1987 from 84 to 199.
On relations between police and community Imbert
says that one of the reasons is lack of communication which may lead to
baseless rumours and misunderstanding. Under the same heading mention is
made of the Wapping dispute where the police are described as `facilitators
for those whose rights were constantly and inexorably in conflict'.
TERRITORIAL OPERATIONS
The section on consultative schemes notes that the majority parties in the
boroughs of Hackney, Lambeth, Ealing, Brent and Haringey do not
participate.
28 people died in police custody over the year.
The number of searches under PACE of persons and vehicles went up in 1987
- the total searched was 54,366 (35,260 in 1986). and those arrested as a
result was 8,641 (6,092 in 1986). This included 20,040 for suspected
stolen property (2,368 arrests), and 20,050 for suspected drugs (3,161
arrests). The number actually charged and convicted is not known.
The figures for road cheeks set up under Section 4 of PACE show a total of
3,003 vehicles were stopped (4,557 in 1986) at 26 roadblocks (27 in 1986),
and no witnesses found (17 in 1986). 16 roadblocks were set up to see if
a vehicles was carrying a person who had committed a serious arrestable
offence, 9 to look for witnesses to serious offences, and 1 for people
intending to carry out a serious arrestable offence. 33 arrests were made,
but on what charges is not stated.
The report states that:`There has been a noticeable shift in the pattern
of protest within society, moving away from the mass march or demonstration
towards small but vociferous protest groups.' This shift has, the report
says, been away from international issues and towards the need to maintain
order at local authority meetings.
Six of the 24 armoured landrovers for public order policing were delivered
last year, and all expected to be in service by March 1988. Six area
headquarters now have specially equipped public order control rooms, and
the other two are being prepared.
The Territorial Support Groups(TSGs) are to take over the role of the
Special Patrol Group(SPG) from 12 January 1988. There is one TSG in each
of the 8 Areas. Each comprises 118 officers under the command of a
superintendent. Their role is to give local support in anti-crime drive
and to act as a public order group. In reality there has been a change in
name but they are doing the same job as the SPG.
The number of casualties due to road accidents is the lowest since 1954,
and the number of deaths on the road its lowest si