Minutes

Minutes of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 20 September 2001 at Romney House, Marsham Street, London, SW1.

Present

Members

• Toby Harris (Chair)
• Jennette Arnold
• Anthony Arbour
• Reshard Auladin
• Richard Barnes (Deputy Chair)
• John Biggs
• Cindy Butts
• Lynn Featherstone
• Peter Herbert (Deputy Chair)
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Jenny Jones
• Nicholas Long
• Cecile Lothian
• R David Muir
• Eric Ollerenshaw
• Sir John Quinton
• Angela Slaven
• Richard Sumray
• Abdal Ullah
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Peter Martin (Treasurer)
• Nick Baker (Secretariat)

MPS officers

• Sir John Stevens (Commissioner)
• Ian Blair (Deputy Commissioner)
• Tarique Ghaffur (Assistant Commissioner)
• Bernard Hogan-Howe (Assistant Commissioner)
• Keith Luck (Director of Resources)

50 members of the press/public and other MPA/MPS staff were also present.

Part 1

41. Terrorist attacks

Following the terrorist attacks in the United States of America on 11 September 2001, the Chair, Toby Harris, requested that the Authority and those members of the public present at the meeting stand in a minute silence for those who lost their lives in the attacks.

The Authority joined the Chair in praising the emergency services and other agencies in America for their dedication during the attacks and requested that the Authority's condolences to the families and friends of those killed in the attacks be noted.

It was agreed that the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, Sir John Stevens, brings forward his update to the Authority to specifically inform the Authority on events in London since the attacks.

The Commissioner reported that following the attacks in America senior MPS officers had been involved in high-level briefing sessions with the Government.

The Commissioner informed the Authority that London is, and would be for a considerable amount of time, under serious threat from an attack and that following the incidents in America an additional 1,500 police officers had been brought into London to support strategic areas and vulnerable communities. The Commissioner confirmed that the MPS are working closely with the Government and agencies in America, such as the FBI and New York Police Department including investigations relating to the attacks that involved citizens from the United Kingdom. He reported that immediately following the attacks the MPS established a contact bureau at New Scotland Yard for families and friends concerned about relatives in America, and that the bureau is supported by specially trained liaison officers. Officers from Kent and Surrey police services are assisting the MPS bureau.

The Commissioner confirmed that MPS officers (including a coroner) were in America supporting the investigations and he praised the work of those police officers and civil staff who had worked tirelessly over the immediate period following the attacks. In doing so, the Commissioner reiterated that the current state of high alert would continue for a considerable amount of time and he suggested that in order to maintain the current levels of officers and civil staff input the Government should be approached to support the MPS

Members of the Authority condemned the attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania and joined the Commissioner in thanking the police officers and civil staff for the considerable work in London and in America since the attacks.

The Authority agreed that urgent discussions with the Government should take place to ensure that in order to maintain the current levels of policing in London appropriate additional resources be made available. Members acknowledged that as this issue was almost certainly going to be prolonged then MPA and MPS priorities and objectives may have to be reviewed during the future months.

Members supported the Commissioner in maintaining high level policing of events in London, particularly those involving vulnerable members of the community. Members also requested that information relating to the current situation be made available to those whose first language is not English. Members condemned retaliatory attacks on those vulnerable members of the community and inflammatory remarks made by some elements of the press. They supported the Commissioner in investigating all incidents of incitement.

The Authority also agreed that approaches should be made to the Government on additional support for London from other police services.

The Chair informed the Authority that he had received a written motion from Richard Barnes, and although it was not received within the timescale laid out in the Authority's Standing Orders, he proposed that the motion be heard. The Authority agreed to receive and unanimously supported the following motion:

'The Authority is aware of the pressures accruing to and threatening the budget of the Metropolitan Police Service which include the cost of security operations related to the terrorist activity in New York and the potential reductions in formula funding amounting to some £20 million in the next financial year.

'The Authority also recognises that London, the capital city, is threatened by world terrorism and the cost of protecting London and its communities is not only disproportionate but should not fall upon the residents of London. It therefore gives full support to the Chair of the Authority to bring pressure to bear on all the relevant departments of central Government in an endeavour to obtain full funding for all the additional costs related to current operations and asks that he report the outcome of his negotiations at the next full meeting of the Authority.'

In conclusion, the Authority agreed to receive regular reports on the situation and implications on policing London.

Resolved – That

1. future Commissioner's update to the Authority give details of events linked to the terrorist attacks in America; and
2. the Chair, with the support of the Authority, discuss with the relevant departments appropriate resources to enable the MPS to maintain current levels of policing in the capital.

42. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies were received from Darren Johnson and Graham Tope.

43. Minutes: 26 July 2001

(Agenda item 2)

The Authority considered the minutes of the meetings held on 26 July 2001.

Arising from the minutes the Chair commissioned the following reports to future meetings of the Authority relating to the issue of deaths in custody: Suspension of police officers; revisiting the complaints process; procedural guidelines on deaths in custody; and outstanding issues raised by individual families.

Resolved - That

1. the minutes of the Authority meetings held on 26 July 2001 be signed as a correct record; and
2. the four reports commissioned by the Chair be presented to a future meeting of the Authority.

44. Minutes of committees

(Agenda item 3)

The Authority received the approved/draft minutes (previously circulated) of the following committee meetings:

• Professional Standards and Performance Monitoring Committee 12 July 2001
• Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee 19 July 2001; and
• Human Resources Committee 6 September 2001.

Resolved - That the minutes be received.

45. Chair's and members' update

(Agenda item 4)

The Chair updated Members on recent key activities undertaken by him since the previous meeting of the Authority.

These included: a visit to Patmore Estate in Wandsworth; meeting community representatives regarding events in Bradford and Burnley etc; a meeting with the Mayor to discuss the Notting Hill Carnival; a meeting with HMIC to discuss the forthcoming inspection programme for the MPS and risk assessment; a briefing meeting with the Commissioner on the extended police family and wardens; the Chair also gave details of the visit to New York and Philadelphia and thanked those involved in the arrangements, particularly in obtaining return fights following the incidents in America.

The Members' update included Sir John Quinton having attended two meetings as a member of the newly formed Senior Officer (SO) Marketing Strategy Group whose purpose is to improve SO's image with the rest of the MPS. Sir John also informed the Authority that he had been invited to join the newly formed Forensic Services Strategy Group. Richard Barnes reported that he had attended the launch of the anti prostitution card legislation and been in attendance in Ealing during the terrorist bomb incident.

46. Commissioner's update

(Agenda item 5)

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, Sir John Stevens, gave the Authority an update on the following developments and current issues:

Stephen Lawrence investigation

The Commissioner informed the Authority that four people had been arrested in connection with the investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. All four people had been bailed pending further enquiries.

Notting Hill Carnival

The Commissioner thanked the MPA for its assistance in ensuring that the Carnival had been a success. The Commissioner gave details relating to arrest and injuries at this year's event and reported that there that had been a decline in both arrests and injuries from the previous year. However, the Commissioner reiterated the need to avoid complacency and raised concerns that some issues relating to next year's event, particularly future stewarding arrangements, the route of carnival and the need for a risk analysis, needed to be progressed with appropriate agencies urgently.

The Chair agreed to pursue these issues, in the first instance, with the Mayor.

Bomb in Ealing

Members were given details relating to the bomb that exploded in Ealing High Street on 3 August and current investigations relating to that incident.

The Commissioner and the Authority joined in congratulating Chief Superintendent Goulding and his colleagues for their work during and following this attack.

Resolved – That

1. the report be received; and
2. the Chair discusses with the Mayor the issues of concern relating to next year's Notting Hill carnival.

47. Road safety issues

(Agenda item 6)

The Authority considered a report that discussed issues relating to road safety.

The report highlighted the Mayor's proposals for a transport strategy for London, which in relation to road safety, were outlined in the now published document 'London Road Safety Plan'. In addition, the report discussed road conditions and speed; camera based enforcement and police pursuits collisions.

Some Members expressed concerns that the report did not cover detailed road safety issues, raised by the Authority previously. Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur agreed to meet with those Members and the Clerk to discuss those specific issues further.

Arising from the discussion, the Chair suggested that the Authority, may wish to revise its current decision making process and that this could include looking at specific issues, such as road safety, in a working party format, which would enhance how Members feed into the overall process.

Resolved – That

1. Members note the report; and
2. A.C. Ghaffur meet with interested Members to discuss these issues further.

48. Police Reform Programme

(Agenda item 7)

The Clerk gave the Authority a verbal update on current issues relating to the Police Reform Programme. These included work undertaken by the MPA, MPS, ACPO and the APA on feeding police authority and police service views into emerging proposals and the significant challenges for policing in London such as pay flexibility, retention beyond 30 years service and pensions.

The Clerk also gave details of the recently held APA special plenary meeting on 6 September 2001 that considered a number of papers covering the police reform agenda.

Arising from the update, Members discussed the extended police family and the suggestion to introduce an auxiliary force. Members suggested such an introduction of an auxiliary force could assist the police service in eradicating low- level crime and disorder and dealing with anti social behaviour. It was agreed that the Co-ordination-Urgency Committee should take forward issues relating to the reform programme and feed back to the full Authority.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the Co-ordination-Urgency Committee should take forward issues relating to the reform programme and feedback to the full Authority in due course.

49. Progress report on recruitment and retention in the MPS

(Agenda item 8)

The Committee received a report that informed Members of the MPS recruitment of police officers and civil staff against the budgeted workforce targets for 2001/02. The report gave the latest position on wastage and outlined the work started by the MPS Retention Task Force.

Members were assured that the recruitment process would be improved by early 2002, and the process should then take no more than 12 weeks.

With regard to retention, the Authority was also informed of the recent Government announcement to allocate funding under the Starter Homes Initiative. It was noted that London police had been awarded £15.312 million over three years and that this could be used for police officers and civil staff in both the MPS and the City of London Police and that this would benefit retention within the service.

Members also requested that the lead officers within the MPS look at the 'Waltham Forest' initiative as an example of best practice in recruitment and retention.

Resolved – That the report be received.

50. Use of MPS custody facilities by Her Majesty's Immigration Service

(Agenda item 9)

Members were informed that the MPS had been requested to assist Her Majesty's Immigration Service (HMIS) in its role of removing failed asylum seekers from the United Kingdom. The report gave two options for consideration and informed Members that current custody procedures are hampering HMIS progress and that MPS operations are being effected by HMIS arrests filling up MPS custody cell accommodation. HMIS have now requested that the MPS provide them with centralised exclusive custody facilities. It was noted that the MPS had already insisted that failed asylum seekers should be held in a centralised facility and not across London at separate locations and that any remedial work required on current facilities be undertaken by the Immigration Service.

Members, while acknowledging that the MPS were required to assist in this matter, supported option 2 as outlined in the report and in addition raised several concerns relating to the request and suggested that the MPS response should include the following issues;

• that any provision supplied by the MPS must be done on a full cost recovery basis;
• there is a need for a phased approach;
• there is a need for a consistent approach to complaints;
• there must be a clear protocol on the whole process and it should include provision for independent custody visits and give details of what happens if only some members of a family are to be detained (Members also suggested that the protocol be both monitored on a regular basis and reviewed if necessary);
• suitable provisions for vulnerable people must be provided (in consultation with social services); and
• that accommodation should be of an acceptable standard, and include provision for exercise.

Members also suggested that it might not be necessary for frontline MPS staff to be involved in the whole process.

Members added that police officers should be involved in joint training with the immigration service, with particular regard to acceptable restraint.

Finally, Members raised serious concerns relating to the timing of this request and the need for sensitivity when people are detained and the effects this may have on the community.

Resolved – That

1. the Authority note the request to the MPS from HMIS for dedicated custody facilities for the detention of failed asylum seekers;
2. the issues raised by Members during the discussion including the requirement for full cost recovery be shared with HMIS; and
3. the Authority receives further update reports on this issue.

51. MPA accommodation

(Agenda item 10)

Members considered a report that updated them on the search for suitable accommodation for the MPA. The report suggested that, following visits to several potential sites, which had proved unsuitable It was know proposed to broadened area, in order to look at other possible suitable sites.

Resolved – That the area for accommodation for the MPA be widened as indicated at Appendix 1 of the report.

52. Final accounts

(Agenda item 11)

The Authority received a report that set out the proposed arrangements for approval of the final accounts of the MPA for 2000/01.

It was noted that the Audit Panel had received the draft statement of accounts at it meeting on 19 September 2001 for detailed scrutiny and that with the approval of the Authority the final account would be approved by the Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee on 4 October 2001.

Resolved –That the Authority delegate approval of the final accounts for 2000/01 to Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee at it meeting on 4 October 2001.

53. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 12)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during agenda items 13 and 14 as they were likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Resolved - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the following items of business.

54. Old street former police station and magistrates' court

(Agenda item 13)

Peter Herbert declared an interest in this item, as a member of the organisation interested in buying this site, and did not take part in the debate.

The Authority considered a report that gave details of the valuation of Old Street former police station and magistrates' court.

Resolved – That the Community Advice Project be advised of the District Valuer's valuation of this property, as set out in the report.

55. Inquiry

(Agenda item 14)

14(a) Update on Inquiry

The Authority were given detail and updated on a current inquiry being undertaken.

Resolved – That Members note the current position of the inquiry.

14(b) Settlement issues

Members noted that this item had been withdrawn.

56. Tintagel house

The Authority agreed to receive a tabled report on the lease arrangements of Tintagel House. This report was considered urgent as final discussions relating to the lease had to be completed by 21 September 2001.

Resolved – That

1. option 4 be approved regarding the lease at Tintagel House;
2. an exemption to the application of the Local Government (Capital Finance) Regulations 1997 be sought; and
3. Members note the commission with solicitors to provide advice on seeking an exemption.

The meeting closed at 1.35 p.m.

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