11 February 2025
Record of actions and decisions
Title: Chief Officer's Management Board - Strategic
Date: Tuesday 11 February 2025
Venue: County Room and virtual via Microsoft Teams
Attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| CC Tim Smith (Chair) | Chief Constable (CC) |
| DCC Peter Ayling | Deputy Chief Constable |
| ACC Nigel Brookes (items 11 to 13) | Local Policing Directorate |
| Ch/Supt Shaun White (items 1 to 10) | Rep. Local Policing Directorate |
| PSE Becky Humphreys | Rep. Director of HR and L&D |
| ACO Gavin McKinnon | Head of Media and Comms |
| ACO Claire Medhurst | Director of Support Services Directorate |
| ACC Andy Pritchard | Serious Crime Directorate |
| T/ACC Tracey Quiller | Central Operations Directorate |
| ACC Simon Wilson | Crime Directorate |
| PSE Phil Wilson | Rep. Chief Finance Officer |
| Ch/Supt Simon Alland (items 8 and 10) | Tactical Operations Command |
| DCS Emma Banks (item 9) | Head of Public Protection |
| D/Supt Rob Coan (vc) (item 5) | Director of Intelligence, SCD |
| PSE Nicola Endacott (item 3) | Head of Intelligence and Data Analysis |
| PSE Steph Gill (items 6 and 7) | ITS Service Delivery Manager |
| PSE Louisa Neiles (item 10) | Head of Force Inspectorate |
| PSE Sonya Gransden | Chief of Staff |
| Insp Donna Cork | Staff Officer to DCC |
| PSE Emma Lewis (vc) | Staff Officer to Director SSD |
| PSE Catherine Hughes (Minutes) | Executive Assistant to CC |
Apologies:
- ACO Richard Leicester
- PSE Jonathan Castle
1. Approval of the record from Tuesday 28 January 2025
The record of the last meeting was approved.
2. Matters arising/action updates
41/24 - PSE absence: a paper is submitted at item 3. Discharged.
01/25 - KCC meeting: Discharged.
2.1 Annual terms of reference (TOR) review
The updated ToR was approved with one amendment to rename the quarterly IT programme update.
3. PSE absence analysis
PSE Becky Humphreys and PSE Nicola Endacott presented the paper as previously shared, which provided further analysis of the observed increases in PSE absence over the last five years. PSE Endacott highlighted key areas of the analysis and a number of recommendations were identified. The chief constable acknowledged the complexities leading to the increasing trends and the need for the force to reverse this trend for both staff and officers.
New action:
PSE Humphreys and ACO Leicester to lead a review of the absence policies and best practice guidance and provide a list of considerations and options to help reverse the trend of increasing absence. Due in early April.
4. Smarter working protocol
PSE Becky Humphreys presented the paper as previously shared, which brings together considerations on the current application of the Smarter Working Protocol (SWP) in relation to home-based working.
Chief Officers agreed to the following recommendations and additions in bold:
- continue with protocol L1170 in respect of home working.
- remove the reference in protocol to ‘working beyond a bordering county’ and the additional endorsement required. This will be limited to locations in England and Wales only.
- define more clearly the requirement for the individuals to attend the workplace frequently.
- promote frequent attendance (an average of once per fortnight) with discretion for managers.
- require the annual review recorded on the manager’s checklist.
- clarify HoD ownership with an annual review.
New action 03/25:
All Chief Officers to review their home-based worker police officers to ensure the agreements are still appropriate and productive. PSE Humphreys will provide the relevant data for Chief Officers’ use. Chief Officers to brief the DCC by 8 April, for onward briefing to the chief.
5. Athena intelligence processing
ACC Andy Pritchard and D/Supt Rob Coan presented the paper as previously shared and noted this has been reviewed by Essex Chief Officers who approved option 2. The paper sought agreement to fully adopt an intelligence processing option on low graded intelligence that is not the full approved manner for Athena intelligence processing.
Chief Officers approved option 2 and the five recommendations as listed:
Option 2 – Permanently embed the new trial process of only completing one primary link per low graded intelligence report.
- continue to use the option 2 remedy whilst we progress to full adoption as BAU.
- the process is presented at the Regional Deputy Chief Constables Meeting for transparency.
- the process is briefed to the ATHENA BDA for transparency.
- risks documented 3.8 are accepted by Chief Officers.
- the requirements for AI and a less burdensome system are included in the Next Gen work being prepared for the end of the ATHENA contract in 2029.
6. Laptop review
PSE Steph Gill presented the paper as previously shared with the meeting outlining current IT laptop allocation and usage in Kent Police and a proposed future strategy following a force wide survey of laptop usage. There were four options presented to Chief Officers for consideration, with the recommended option being option 1.
Chief Officers approved option 1 - all new laptops purchased are standard laptops with no touchscreen.
Additionally, options 2a and 2b seek to reduce ongoing costs by reducing the number of laptops in force by adjusting the role allocation, either immediately or over a two-year period.
New action 04/25:
PSE Gill to further review the operational impact of option 2b and ensure a communications plan is in place. The findings are to be presented to COMB in March for a final decision on option 2b.
7. Tech refresh
PSE Steph Gill presented the paper as previously shared with the meeting seeking approval for funding of £3.033m for the 2025/26 technical refresh of IT infrastructure and end user devices. It was noted that depending on the outcome of the decision to remove laptops as discussed in item 6, this amount could significantly reduce.
Chief Officers approved the preferred option as outlined in the 2025/26 technical refresh funding paper.
8. Operation Brock and EES resourcing/funding
Supt Simon Alland presented the paper as previously shared outlining options for Kent Police resourcing of Operation Brock/EES in the short, medium and long term and to seek support for ongoing negotiations regarding the introduction of the ‘National Policing guidelines on charging for police services’ under Section 25 of the Police Act 1996.
A decision was sought to support a phased approach of reducing the operational footprint of Brock (and the future EES requirements) and to seek cost recovery for current operational commitments where Kent Police are supporting a government agency (National Highways).
The chief constable approved the following decisions:
- a reduced policing footprint, with a longer-term ambition of reaching a zero-resourcing requirement, where there are no statutory core responsibilities for policing, and
- support for the ongoing negotiation of police funding arrangements for the future of EES operations (including Operation Brock) at full cost recovery until such time as zero resourcing is agreed, and
- support for a briefing to the Police and Crime Commissioner as required when a funding arrangement is made.
Supt Alland agreed to provide the chief constable with a briefing for the PCC at the appropriate time.
9. Child protection update and the future of children's social care
DCS Emma Banks presented the paper as previously circulated which provided an update on two recently introduced legislative proposals aimed at enhancing child welfare and protection - the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which is likely to be enacted in early 2025, and the Children’s Bill to Keep Children Safe from Exploitation. These bills seek to strengthen safeguarding arrangements, improve educational oversight, and address emerging threats to children’s safety. DCS Banks summarised the key changes proposed and the implications for policing.
The paper was presented for information only and there were no decisions or actions.
10. HMICFRS inspection: police response to the public disorder July to August 2024
PSE Louisa Neiles presented the paper as previously circulated which sets out the inspection findings, the three recommendations and Kent Police’s progress against these. The progress of the recommendations will be monitored through key business leads and overseen by the deputy chief constable.
There were no decisions or actions.
11. Quarterly risk management review
ACO Claire Medhurst presented the paper as previously circulated and highlighted the changes over the period November 2024 to February 2025 and noted no new risks were opened and no risks increased in score.
- URN 2740 Intelligence Bureau demand decreased in score.
- URN 2662 The impact of the provision of Protected Learning Time (PLT) on operational policing was approved for closure.
New action 05/25:
All Chief Officers to consider additional inclusions or observations from their directorates for the Risk Register, and ACO Medhurst to ensure it is aligned with the FMS and National SRA for onward briefing to the DCC and future standing COMB updates.
12. Police and crime plan survey 2024
The chief constable presented the paper as previously circulated noting the force will provide a response to the PCC and he sought views from Chief Officers to inform this.
New action 06/25:
All Chief Officers to review the Police & Crime Plan and provide any observations to the DCC for collating for a response to the PCC. Due by end of April for a response to the PCC in May.
13. Any other business
Travel and accommodation
ACO Claire Medhurst advised a new contract has been agreed for a self-service travel and accommodation booking system with line manager approval. The system will be trialled force wide for six months followed by a review. Business Services are working on updating the policy and will work with Corporate Comms on a communication plan.
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 25 February 2025, 1pm, County Room.