Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 27 January 2005 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
• Richard Barnes
• Lynne Featherstone
• Nicky Gavron
• Toby Harris
• Kirsten Hearn
• Peter Herbert
• Damian Hockney
• Elizabeth Howlett
• 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)
• Sir Ian Blair (Deputy Commissioner)
• Keith Luck (Director of Resources)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of Human Resources)

Part 1

96. Holocaust memorial day

At the request of the Chair, all present rose to observe a minute’s silence to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

97. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

An apology for late arrival was received from Graham Tope.

98. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

Peter Herbert referred to the item on the supplemental agenda in relation to the disposal of the Old Street Police Station. He declared that, as a trustee of the Community Advice Project, he had a prejudicial interest and would withdraw from the meeting if that item were discussed.

99. Authority business

The Chair proposed and it was

Resolved – That consideration of the report on the disposal of Old Street Police Station be deferred to the next meeting.

The Chair confirmed that a report on the review of the Resource Allocation Formula would be submitted to the February meeting of the Co-ordination & Policing Committee.

100. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the Authority meeting held on 16 December 2004 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

101. Public question

(Agenda item 4)

The Authority received a question from Kathryn Bonds and Councillor Pat Ryans, as follows:

“The area known as Crystal Palace straddles the Boroughs of Lambeth, Croydon, Bromley, Southwark and Lewisham in very small part in the case of the two latter Boroughs; however, it has always been an area where there has never been any seamless and coordinated cross borough police working relationship – it has been tried on occasions but never consolidated as a part of the policing priorities for each Borough. We have, over the last two decades tried, on many occasions, to lobby and canvass for this area to have focused policing arrangements, like any other district centre. To date, the situation has not changed in fact we find that Crystal Palace has been marginalized with the advent of the safer neighbourhood scheme

With the inception of safer neighbourhoods, we felt, that this was an opportunity for the relevant police areas to forge links and make the area one safer neighbourhood. However we see other areas within the Boroughs identify their new safer neighbourhoods and the wards known as Upper Norwood (LB Croydon) and Gipsy Hill (LB Lambeth) have not been prioritised – these are the two main wards that make up the locality. We wish the MPA, to note our serious concerns, regarding these matters and ask that it looks at those district centres, such as Crystal Palace, where they fall on borough boundaries, with a view to encouraging positive joint working on policing issues- as a matter of priority and urgency.”

The Clerk responded on behalf of the Authority as follows:

“Can I thank Kathryn Bonds and Pat Ryans for putting this question to the Authority. I see two issues here: the process for selecting safer neighbourhood areas, and the way in which cross-boundary policing is managed.

In terms of the process for selecting safer neighbourhood areas, decisions are normally taken at the local level. Borough commanders have been directed to pick their most challenging neighbourhoods, or neighbourhoods where there is the greatest need first. In particular the borough commander will consult with the local authority to prioritise against a range of indicators. These will include, for instance, anti-social behaviour and priority crimes such as burglary, robbery and motor vehicle crimes. The MPA is not in a position to comment on where Upper Norwood or Gipsy Hill should figure in the priorities, nor would it be appropriate for it to do so.

However, the issue of cross-boundary policing is, I suggest, the key one. Local authority and police unit boundaries do not always reflect natural communities or centres. This does present particular management problems, not least because a borough commander’s focus is understandably on performance in his or her borough. It is worth saying, in passing, that this is also a challenge that the local authorities and CDRP partners need to address.

Having discussed this question with him, I know that the Chair is keen to see the MPS developing effective management arrangements to co-ordinate cross boundary working. Indeed, this was raised as an issue at his recent visit to the borough of Bromley. At his instigation, he and Bob Neill will shortly be meeting with the TP Commander and the borough commanders for Lewisham, Greenwich, Bexley and Bromley, to discuss this and other partnership working. This meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the situation in relation to Crystal Palace with at least some of the key players. There will be a further opportunities when the Chair visits Croydon next month and Lambeth in the course of the next few months.

The MPS will make the borough commanders aware of the concerns expressed in this question and will, I am sure, look to them for a positive response. Finally, I would invite the MPA’s link members for these boroughs to discuss the issues with the borough commanders and CDRP partners”.

In response, Kathryn Bonds emphasised that the key to success would be consistent joint working and ‘ring-fenced’ police officers, as abstractions caused problems.

Graham Tope, commenting as link member for Croydon, said that Crystal Palace was particularly unusual in being within the boundaries of five boroughs. For each borough the area did not figure high enough to become a priority, but if taken collectively it probably would.

102. Minutes of committees

(Agenda item 4)

The Authority received the minutes of the following Committees:

• Corporate Governance, 2 December 2004
• Community Engagement, 2 December
• Professional Standards & Complaints, 9 December

Resolved – That the minutes of committees be noted.

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

(Agenda item 6)

The Chair reported on the first round of the budget debate at the London Assembly and that all parties had agreed with the MPA’s budget.

The Clerk reported on the Queen’s recent appointment of Paul Stephenson as Deputy Commissioner. The MPA had been fully involved in the process of making recommendations. The Clerk also reported on the MPA’s appointment of three Assistant Commissioner appointments – Alan Brown, Stephen House and Andy Hayman.

Members also reported on other issues, including:

• Bob Neill reported on the Local Government Association’s Urban Commission. A main issue in its work plan was to be sustainable improvements in urban areas, which would include community safety
• Karim Murji reported on a visit to the MPS historical archive at Charlton. This is currently housed in unsuitable premises. Although legal and other issues need to be resolved there is a will to find a solution
• Abdal Ullah and Richard Barnes congratulated the Acting Borough Commander of Ealing on her approach to policing religious festivals and sporting celebrations
• Jennette Arnold thanked the MPA’s Partnerships and Community Engagement Teams for all their work on her behalf in her three link boroughs
• Peter Herbert reported that the Race Hate Forum had probably secured future funding
• Toby Harris reported on a meeting with Dr Peter Phillips, the Director of National Security in the Jamaican Government. Dr Phillips had praised the MPS’s collaboration with the Jamaican police, its policing methods and professional standards.
• Kirsten Hearn met with Independent Advisory Group representatives before Christmas and looked to stronger relations between the IAGs and members
• Jenny Jones asked for consideration to be given to appointing a lead member for traffic issues

At the request of the Chair, members stood and applauded Sir John Stevens in appreciation of his contribution as Commissioner.

104. Commissioner’s update

(Agenda item 7)

The Commissioner thanked members for their good wishes on his retirement. He than introduced the written performance report, highlighting successes and areas where improvement was needed.

The meeting discussed, amongst other things, the relationship between alcohol and violence and action against poorly run licensed premises.

Jenny Jones asked for information on the number of MPS officers killed in road traffic accidents whilst on duty and on how many officer days absence are caused by road accidents. She also asked to see the MPS’s response to the Government’s traffic policing and road safety proposals.

105. MPA high level objectives (corporate control strategies)

(Agenda item 8)

The Authority considered a report outlining the progress on the development of the MPA high-level and overarching objectives for inclusion in the Annual Policing Plan for 2005/2006. The Deputy Commissioner commented that the annual policing plan remained an interim approach and the intention was to move to a three-year plan and budget.

Richard Sumray, Chair of the Planning, Performance & Review Committee commented that there were some aspects that still needed developing. For instance, some areas were still not covered or targets needed to be made more specific. He referred in particular to the addition in subject area 1 of the word ‘extremist’ in the outcome ‘to prevent terrorist and extremist incidents’. He had concerns about how this could be interpreted.

Resolved – That, subject to the above comments, the Authority

1. approves the proposals for appropriate measures and targets (Annex A); and
2. notes the development activity required to finalise the outstanding targets for MPA high-level objectives and for further preparation of the draft MPA Policing Plan.

106. Operation Bracknell – United Kingdom policing response to the Asian Tsunami

(Agenda item 9)

The Authority considered a report by the Commissioner providing details of the UK policing response to the Asian Tsunami disaster and the role that the MPS has played.

Commander Yates and Aneeta Prem had just returned from Thailand and had been able to view the MPS’s contribution to the disaster relief effort at first hand. Commander Yates also reported on the MPS’s work in England, for instance in the Casualty Bureau, the National Incident Room and in family liaison. Aneeta Prem paid tribute to the enormous commitment shown by the MPS officers and staff in Thailand, working in very stressful circumstances. It would be important to look at what help and support they would need on their return home.

Members of the Authority expressed their gratitude to the efforts of MPS staff both abroad and in England. Officers and staff in many areas had been called upon to perform beyond the call of duty, for instance at Heathrow Airport, the catering facilities at Hendon and the occupational health staff. It was agreed that at a suitable time (and subject to whatever other national events are planned) the MPA and the MPS should arrange a reception to thank all officers and staff engaged in the response to this disaster.

The Treasurer reported that although the Authority had not obtained definitive legal advice, there was a risk that some MPS activity in response to this disaster went beyond the Authority’s statutory powers. It was important, therefore, that written assurances were received from the Government in relation to funding. The Chair emphasised that without these firm assurances, the Authority would be obliged to review the MPS’s continuing contribution to the relief effort. He proposed an amendment to the resolution to this effect, and it was

Resolved – That, subject to the financial clarifications sought from the Government, the Authority notes the extent of the MPS involvement in Operation Bracknell and the move towards a national structure to manage this investigation.

107. Disabled people and the police – a new relationship

(Agenda item 10)

The Authority considered a reference from the Community Engagement Committee in relation to a report commissioned from Greater London Action on Disability on policing issues affecting disabled people.

Resolved – That the Authority

1. notes the summary of the report ‘Disabled people and the police – a new relationship?’ and the Community Engagement Committee’s decision to set up an MPA oversight group and MPS implementation group to implement the community recommendations;
2. agrees the Terms of Reference and membership for the MPA oversight group, to include Toby Harris and a member of the Human Resources Committee (Len Duvall asked to be kept in touch with its work); and
3. agrees to ask MPA link members to take the briefing (appendix 2 to the report) to their Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.

108. Police reform white paper ‘building communities, beating crime’

(Agenda item 11)

The Authority considered a report by the Clerk setting out a draft response to the police reform White Paper and a draft submission on further consultation on reforms to existing partnership working arrangements.

Some drafting changes were discussed at the meeting, in particular relating to the powers of Police Community Support Officers and the role of Magistrate Members. It was agreed that the submission be redrafted to reflect these comments and re-circulated to members before submission to the Home Office.

Resolved – That

1. the response to the White Paper be agreed subject to redrafting to reflect the comments made at the meeting; and
2. the submission on the consultation over reform to partnership working arrangements be endorsed.

109. Crime and disorder reduction partnership update

(Agenda item 12)

The Authority received a report by the Clerk on the MPA’s involvement with CDRPs over the previous six months and common issues arising from this.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

110. Initial performance assessment of the MPA

(Agenda item 13)

The Authority considered a report by the Clerk on the Audit Commission’s report and progress made in addressing the issues raised by the report.

Resolved – That the conclusions of the report be noted.

111. Report of the Standards Committee

(Agenda item 14)

The Authority received a report of the Standards Committee’s meeting on 13 December 2004.

The Clerk reported an amendment to Appendix 1 of the report in that the total expenses for Rachel Whittaker should be £1,539.51 and not £2,024.05 as shown.

112. Other business

C3i

The Chair referred to the decisions taken by the Finance Committee on 20 January and said that he would be happy to meet with any member who had concerns about the position. Other members would also be welcome to join the oversight group.

New Commissioner

Sir Ian Blair expressed the hope that members would be able to attend his inaugural address as Commissioner on 1 February.

The meeting closed at 12.30 p.m.

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