Metropolitan Police Service
Police / Law Enforcement
Action Planned
The MPS will share the report with relevant departments and review training programmes to include expert evidence-based advice on knife carrying and gang membership in domestic abuse risk assessments. A review of CSU resourcing is underway, with findings to be presented to the MPS Management Board in January 2022. (AI summary)
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Dear Mr Harris
I am the Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the Directorate of Professionalism in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and I am responding on behalf of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to your Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths, dated 18th November 2021. Your report was sent following the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Miss Katrina Makunova who sadly died on 12th July 2018.
The MPS has acknowledged and reviewed all matters of concern raised in your Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths and respond as follows:
Matter of Concern 1
University academics are asked to provide expert evidence-based advice about whether and how knife carrying and gang membership should be considered in assessment of risk to sufferers of domestic abuse, in the context of cultures where these are prevalent. The MPS is asked to consider how they might use this expert knowledge in preventing future deaths.
The MPS acknowledges the request made by the Senior Coroner to
and for them to provide expert evidence-based advice on whether and how knife carrying and gang membership should be considered in assessment of risk to sufferers of domestic abuse.
The MPS will engage positively with the relevant experts and assist where possible in any research undertaken by the academics. The MPS’ Lead Responsible Officer for Domestic Abuse will be writing proactively to both academics offering his support. If consideration is to be given to introducing a new category to the DASH risk assessment tool, then the College of Policing will need to be closely involved in these discussions. The MPS is committed to tackling domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, and on 4th November 2021, the Commissioner launched the new Violence against Women and Girls strategy which aims to improve processes and victim care across the criminal justice system to improve outcomes; reduce the likelihood of women and girls becoming repeat victims; increase women’s confidence in the police and, in doing so, improve the reporting of crimes. The aim is to see an increase in reporting to police, but a decrease in prevalence.
As part of our commitment to continue learning both in the context of domestic abuse and gang violence, Katrina’s death and the sad circumstances surrounding it is now being used as a case study as part of the training delivered to staff in Public Protection.
Matter of Concern 2
The workload pressures in the Child Safety Units of the MPS were considerable and cited by officers who had been disciplined as reasons for some failures. However data presented to the court by the MPS did not reassure that the MPS would be able to establish a CSU workforce of sufficient capacity to enable officers to fulfil their safeguarding role effectively and safely.
The Mayor’s Office and MPS are asked to consider whether staffing of CSUs needs to be increased to enable proper risk assessment and safeguarding.
The Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Local Policing requested a broad review of Public Protection within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), which is linked to the MPS’s drive to improve outcomes for victims. The work has revealed a significant increase in demand, particularly in relation to reports of Domestic Abuse.
Investigators have seen workloads rise due to an increase in demand and new or changed legislation meaning that investigators are now using Domestic Violence Protection Orders/Notices to a greater extent as well as complying with Clare’s Law, Sarah’s Law and family law disclosures. This extra demand was unaccounted for in the original resource mapping in 2016/2017 for the 12 BCU model that included CSU (Community Safety Unit) officer provision.
It should be noted that the issue is not solely down to numbers of officers in this area and that as part of the review, efficiency and effectiveness in our systems to manage demand and productivity are being explored.
The review is considering a number of options that could be initiated in a relatively short period of time to address some key findings across the MPS. These include a drive to fill current vacancies and review different ways of working aimed at reducing workloads on CSU investigators, their line management and an increase in staffing numbers. In January 2022, the findings from the review will be presented to the MPS Management Board comprising of the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioners. The final decision as to whether any of the options provided can be pursued, will be made by the Management Board.
In Conclusion
I wish to express my sincere condolences to the family of Miss Makunova. The MPS is committed to promoting a culture of learning and continuous improvement wherever possible.
I trust this provides the reassurance that the MPS has considered the matter of concerns you have raised. Please do not hesitate in contacting me should you have any queries.
I am the Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the Directorate of Professionalism in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and I am responding on behalf of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to your Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths, dated 18th November 2021. Your report was sent following the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Miss Katrina Makunova who sadly died on 12th July 2018.
The MPS has acknowledged and reviewed all matters of concern raised in your Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths and respond as follows:
Matter of Concern 1
University academics are asked to provide expert evidence-based advice about whether and how knife carrying and gang membership should be considered in assessment of risk to sufferers of domestic abuse, in the context of cultures where these are prevalent. The MPS is asked to consider how they might use this expert knowledge in preventing future deaths.
The MPS acknowledges the request made by the Senior Coroner to
and for them to provide expert evidence-based advice on whether and how knife carrying and gang membership should be considered in assessment of risk to sufferers of domestic abuse.
The MPS will engage positively with the relevant experts and assist where possible in any research undertaken by the academics. The MPS’ Lead Responsible Officer for Domestic Abuse will be writing proactively to both academics offering his support. If consideration is to be given to introducing a new category to the DASH risk assessment tool, then the College of Policing will need to be closely involved in these discussions. The MPS is committed to tackling domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, and on 4th November 2021, the Commissioner launched the new Violence against Women and Girls strategy which aims to improve processes and victim care across the criminal justice system to improve outcomes; reduce the likelihood of women and girls becoming repeat victims; increase women’s confidence in the police and, in doing so, improve the reporting of crimes. The aim is to see an increase in reporting to police, but a decrease in prevalence.
As part of our commitment to continue learning both in the context of domestic abuse and gang violence, Katrina’s death and the sad circumstances surrounding it is now being used as a case study as part of the training delivered to staff in Public Protection.
Matter of Concern 2
The workload pressures in the Child Safety Units of the MPS were considerable and cited by officers who had been disciplined as reasons for some failures. However data presented to the court by the MPS did not reassure that the MPS would be able to establish a CSU workforce of sufficient capacity to enable officers to fulfil their safeguarding role effectively and safely.
The Mayor’s Office and MPS are asked to consider whether staffing of CSUs needs to be increased to enable proper risk assessment and safeguarding.
The Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Local Policing requested a broad review of Public Protection within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), which is linked to the MPS’s drive to improve outcomes for victims. The work has revealed a significant increase in demand, particularly in relation to reports of Domestic Abuse.
Investigators have seen workloads rise due to an increase in demand and new or changed legislation meaning that investigators are now using Domestic Violence Protection Orders/Notices to a greater extent as well as complying with Clare’s Law, Sarah’s Law and family law disclosures. This extra demand was unaccounted for in the original resource mapping in 2016/2017 for the 12 BCU model that included CSU (Community Safety Unit) officer provision.
It should be noted that the issue is not solely down to numbers of officers in this area and that as part of the review, efficiency and effectiveness in our systems to manage demand and productivity are being explored.
The review is considering a number of options that could be initiated in a relatively short period of time to address some key findings across the MPS. These include a drive to fill current vacancies and review different ways of working aimed at reducing workloads on CSU investigators, their line management and an increase in staffing numbers. In January 2022, the findings from the review will be presented to the MPS Management Board comprising of the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioners. The final decision as to whether any of the options provided can be pursued, will be made by the Management Board.
In Conclusion
I wish to express my sincere condolences to the family of Miss Makunova. The MPS is committed to promoting a culture of learning and continuous improvement wherever possible.
I trust this provides the reassurance that the MPS has considered the matter of concerns you have raised. Please do not hesitate in contacting me should you have any queries.