Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 25 November 2004 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Len Duvall (Chair)
• Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair)
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair)
• Tony Arbour
• Jennette Arnold
• Lynne Featherstone
• Toby Harris
• Damian Hockney
• Jenny Jones
• Karim Murji
• Bob Neill
• Aneeta Prem
• Murad Qureshi
• John Roberts
• Richard Sumray
• Graham Tope
• Abdal Ullah
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Peter Martin (Treasurer)
• David Riddle (Deputy Clerk and Solicitor)
• Simon Vile (Head of Secretariat)

MPS officers

• Sir John Stevens (Commissioner)
• Tim Godwin (Assistant Commissioner)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of Human Resources)
• Alastair Thompson (Deputy Director of Resources)

68. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Richard Barnes, Nicky Gavron, Kirsten Hearn, Peter Herbert and Elizabeth Howlett.

69. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

Murad Qureshi declared a personal interest in relation to the item on the final report of the Notting Hill Carnival Review Group, by virtue of being a Westminster City Councillor.

70. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the Authority meeting held on 28 October 2004 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

71. Public question

(Agenda item 4)

The Authority received a question from Mr Paul Webbewood, as follows:

“The last two Borough Commanders in Greenwich both made a good impression but both left after around two years in the job, apparently on a sideways move to a specialist post.

Does the Authority agree that this rate of turnover among Borough Commanders is unlikely to be in the interests of local policing and, if so, what measures might be taken to encourage greater continuity?”

The Clerk responded to this question as follows:

“I believe that I speak on behalf of Authority members in agreeing with Mr Webbewood that too rapid a turnover of borough commanders is not in the best interests of the borough command and borough residents. This was, in fact, one aspect of a review carried out by the consultancy firm Accenture last year into borough command management structures. One of their recommendations, which was accepted by the Commissioner’s Management Board, was that borough commanders should be assigned to a borough operational command unit for a minimum period of three years and with a expectation of serving up to five.

However, there can be no hard and fast rule given the size and complexity of the MPS. Operational demands make flexibility of approach essential. We must also recognise the aspirations of many borough commanders to broaden their experience in order to progress further in the police service. It appears that Greenwich borough have benefited from the services of two effective borough commanders. However, there will be occasions when a borough commander does not prove quite so effective and in those circumstances it is to the benefit of all concerned that a rigid tenure is not adhered to.

The Government’s recent White Paper on police reform does not refer specifically to the point Mr Webbewood is making. However, it does emphasise the importance of BCU commanders and their contribution to partnership working, as well as the need to examine mechanisms for holding borough commanders accountable, supported by appropriate training for all senior ranks.

In conclusion, I think that the message that the MPA would want to give to borough commanders is that they are key to the future success of the MPS in general and of neighbourhood policing in particular. Whilst it is to be hoped that all Chief Superintendents have aspirations to go further in their career, borough command is not a stepping stone but a vital part of the service.”

The Chair referred to the recent borough commander appointments. He commented that the process had not been handled well in terms of consultation with relevant link members. Improvements would be discussed and brought back to the appropriate forum as soon as possible.

72. Minutes of committees

(Agenda item 5)

The Authority received the minutes of the following Committees:

• Community Engagement Committee, 14 October
• Finance Committee, 21 October
• Planning, Performance & Review Committee, 4 November
• Equal Opportunities & Diversity Board, 4 November

Resolved – That the minutes of committees be noted.

73. Chair’s, Members’ and Clerk’s update

(Agenda item 5)

John Roberts reported on his attendance at the Association of Police Authorities conference and congratulated all concerned on the Recommendation 61 rollout. Aneeta Prem reported that she had attended the Independent Custody Visiting conference in Newcastle.

74. Commissioner’s update

(Agenda item 6)

The Committee introduced the written performance report. He also referred to a very positive survey of Safer Neighbourhood areas and to the rollout of Recommendation 61.

The Authority joined the Commissioner in congratulating Martin Tiplady on his award of ‘the Daily Telegraph Personnel Director of the Year’.

AC Godwin reported on the growing success of the Shop Watch scheme for Special Constables and the aim of recruiting 3,000 extra Specials in the next two years. In reply to a question from John Roberts, Martin Tiplady confirmed that there had been some delays in the recruitment processes, mainly in relation to vetting. These were being resolved.

Lynne Featherstone asked for the reasons for the decision to reinstate the officers in the Roger Sylvester case at this point in time. The Commissioner said that in would be inappropriate to comment at this stage as the MPS was in the middle of a legal process but that he would report back to the Authority in due course. The Chair confirmed that there should be a public report to and discussion at the full Authority meeting once the judge had delivered his written judgement and other legal impediments to public debate had been removed.

In reply to a question from Damian Hockney, the Commissioner reported that the MPS had not been consulted on the Home Secretary’s intention to extend the powers available to PCSOs. The Commissioner commented that the MPS had no plans to give PCSOs any further powers or equipment with, perhaps, the exception of handcuffs. In any event, the MPS would not extend their powers without seeking the prior consent of the MPA.

75. MPS Bichard Inquiry team update

(Agenda item 8)

The Authority considered a report by the Commissioner on how the MPS is progressing with the recommendations contained in the Bichard Inquiry report.

Resolved – That the report be noted

76. Policing plan 2005/06

(Agenda item 9)

This item was withdrawn. Richard Sumray emphasised that it was essential that the report be brought to the next meeting of the Authority, on 16 December.

77. Notting Hill Carnival: final report of the Mayor’s Carnival Review Group

(Agenda item 10)

The Authority considered a report on those recommendations of the Review Group’s report that were relevant to the MPA and the MPS. Lee Jasper, the Chair of the Review Group, and the Chair of the Notting Hill Carnival Trust attended to answer members’ questions.

Members welcomed the report, which addressed the concerns expressed by both the MPA and MPS over recent years. The adoption of a linear route was seen as essential, though it was not for the MPA to get involved in the detailed route planning. Similarly there were other details to be worked through and the cost and other implications for the MPS as a result of both a linear route and better stewarding arrangements were not yet clear.

It was not clear whether the report’s recommendations could be implemented in time for the 2005 Carnival, but the MPA’s clear wish was to see the linear route adopted if at all possible and a step change improvement made to the stewarding arrangements.

Resolved - That the Authority supports the findings and recommendations of the Review Group in respect of policing and safety and emphasises the need to progress implementation as quickly as possible.

78. Police Reform White Paper ‘Building Communities Beating Crime’

(Agenda item 11)

The Authority considered a report by the Clerk summarising the Government’s proposals for further reform of policing. Points made in the discussion included:

• The proposals for local authority representation on police authorities were unworkable in London. The suggestion was made that in London the main focus for local authority councillors should be through the crime and disorder reduction partnerships
• It would be a retrograde step if police authorities were no longer responsible for the appointment (in MPS terms) of Commanders and Deputy Assistant Commissioners
• Strong objections to restrictions on members’ abilities to elect police authority chairs
• It was not appropriate to develop national guidelines for borough commander delegation, accountability etc as this would depend on local circumstances and needs

Resolved –

1. That the Authority notes the overall direction for policing set out in the White Paper, and the objectives of the Review of Partnerships;
2. That the Clerk prepare a draft response to the White Paper, following consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chairs of the Authority and Committee Chairs, (and taking account of the comments made at the present meeting) for consideration by the Authority at its meeting in January 2005; and
3. That the Clerk prepare a draft submission to the Review of Partnerships for consideration by the Authority at its meeting in December 2004.

79. Dispersal of groups and the removal of persons under 16 years (part 4, section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003)

(Agenda item 12)

The Authority received a report by the Commissioner providing a progress report on the use of dispersal areas.

Members pointed out a number of inaccuracies in the report and commented that it lacked detail on how the powers were actually being used. AC Godwin offered to arrange a briefing for members so that the issues could be explored in more detail. The Chair commented that the Authority should be receiving such reports before implementation.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

80. Review of the Met volunteer programme

(Agenda item 13)

The Authority considered a report by the Commissioner giving an overview of the Metropolitan Police Volunteer Programme.

Rachel Whittaker suggested that the use of volunteers by the Casualty Bureau should be reconsidered.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

81. Evaluation report following the re-classification of cannabis

(Agenda item 14)

The Authority considered a report by the Commissioner providing an update on the effects of the reclassification of cannabis.

A variety of views were expressed during the discussion. Some considered that reclassification had caused confusion particularly amongst young people who thought that it had been decriminalised. Others felt that this was being used as an excuse. There was some evidence that there was not a consistent approach across boroughs, although in part the differences might be explained by the fact that before re-classification a blind eye had been turned to cannabis use.

Some Asian organisations had expressed concern about reclassification and the message that this gave to young people about drug use. However, others saw alcohol and alcohol-fuelled violence as a more significant problem.

It was noted that data showed some evidence of disproportionality in terms of the ethnicity of those charged or cautioned. It was noted that the reasons for this were complicated by other factors but that this should be returned to in more detail when a further update report was made to the Authority.

The Chair emphasised that he would no longer accept reports that did not use the 16+1 classification without a valid reason why this was not possible.

82. MPA Equality and Diversity Policy

(Agenda item 15)

The Authority considered a report by the Clerk proposing and equality and diversity policy for the MPA.

Resolved - That the Authority approves and accepts the Equality and Diversity policy set out in appendix 1 of the report and publicly reaffirms its commitment and that of its staff to the principles contained in it.

83. Committee appointment

(Agenda item 16)

Resolved - That Jenny Jones be appointed to the membership of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee.

The meeting closed at 1.05 p.m.

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