Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 24 February 2011 at City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London, SE1 2AA.

Present

Members

• Kit Malthouse (Chairman)
• Reshard Auladin (Vice Chairman)
• Tony Arbour
• Jennette Arnold
• John Biggs
• Victoria Borwick
• James Cleverly
• Dee Doocey
• Toby Harris
• Kirsten Hearn
• Neil Johnson
• Jenny Jones
• Clive Lawton
• Joanne McCartney
• Steve O’Connell
• Caroline Pidgeon
• Amanda Sater
• Valerie Shawcross

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• Bob Atkins (Treasurer)
• Jane Harwood (Deputy Chief Executive)

MPS officers

• Tim Godwin (Acting Commissioner)
• Anne McMeel (Director of Resources)

68. Apologies for absence and announcements

(Agenda item 1)

68.1 Apologies for absence were received from, Christopher Boothman, Cindy Butts, Graham Speed and the Commissioner.

69. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

69.1 No declarations of interest were made.

Resolved – That

1. the list of memberships of functional bodies and London Borough Councils, as set out in the table above, be noted;
2. the gifts and hospitality received by members, as set out on the Authority’s gifts and hospitality register, be noted; and
3. all members declare any other personal or personal prejudicial interests in specific items listed on the agenda over and above items listed in the table above and including any interest arising from gifts or hospitality received in the last 3 years or which are not at the time of this meeting reflected on the Authority’s register of gifts and hospitality.

70. Minutes: 27 January 2011

(Agenda item 3)

70.1 Members considered the minutes of the Authority meeting held on 27 January 2011.

70.2 As a matter arising, from minute 63 ‘Policing and Social Responsibility Bill, members asked the Chairman to ensure that there was engagement with members on the transition from the MPA to the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC). It was agreed that the Chief Executive would ensure that members had access to Business Management Group notes and the Chairman reminded members that this issue would be a standing item on the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee agenda.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Authority meeting held on 27 January 2011, subject to the requested amendment, be agreed and signed as a correct record.

71. Chairman’s update

(Agenda item 4)

71.1 The Chairman congratulated the Commissioner and his team on a number of recent successes. These included the policing of a number of significant protests, including the student protests at the end of January which was successfully managed despite escalation to a political protest outside an embassy and a march through the West End.

71.2 In acknowledging a number of pieces of excellent work undertaken by the MPS officers, the Chairman highlighted two examples including.

• The partnership award gained by Newham for work between local police officers and the Ahmaddiya Mosque.
• The team from Operation Rize, (the investigation into the use of safe deposit boxes to hide criminal assets), which won the Keith Hughes Team Award for excellence in financial investigation. In doing so it was noted that Operation Rize had to date resulted in over 130 arrests and the return of £13 million of criminal assets to the public purse.

71.3 The Chairman then proved a brief update on the progress of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (PRSR). This included:

• The House of Commons committee stage of the PRSR Bill concluded last week. A team of MPA officers attended the sessions on a rota basis to track the progress of the Bill and senior MPA officers continue to meet with Home Office officials to explain potential consequences of the Bill. The internal MOPC implementation programme continues to progress and a London working group has been set up, chaired by the MPA Chief Executive, which would report to the next ministerial PCC transition board in March.
• An amendment was tabled during the committee stage of the PRSR Bill to allow compulsory alcohol sobriety be given as a court order during sentencing. Whilst the amendment was withdrawn, there was a useful discussion which the Mayor hopes will continue as the Bill progresses through Parliament. A paper on the Mayor’s compulsory sobriety proposals was on the agenda for this meeting.

71.4 The Chairman informed members that the MPA was contributing to the shared service agenda and one very positive outcome to date was that the MPA are about to enter an agreement to provide internal audit service for the GLA.

71.5 He confirmed that he had attended the launch of a knife bin in Victoria and met some of the Bexley special patrols with the Mayor. He also added that he had chaired a productive Joint Engagement Meeting (JEM) with Camden borough.

71.6 He concluded his report by informing members that the work of the London Crime Reduction Board continues to progress well and the Board is working with the GLA to ensure effective dispersal of the Community Safety fund and other funding received for a new youth crime programme from the Home Office.

71.7 Members sought from the Chairman clarification on how the proceeds of crime are allocated. He confirmed that one sixth of the money was returned as part of the incentivisation scheme around the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), 50% goes to the Home Office, two sixths goes to the Ministry of Justice and the Crown Prosecution Service, with a third going to the MPS. This third goes to a disbarment group which report to the MPA. The Chairman added that he felt that the current arrangement was not advantageous to the MPA/MPS, given that the cost of recovery falls to the organisations. He added that there were ongoing discussions with the Government about review this current allocation.

71.8 In noting the award to Newham for partnership between local police officers and the Ahmaddiya Mosque, members wanted to note that whilst, front line policing was important this award reflected the equally important issues of prevention work and engagement with the community.

71.9 Regarding the effective disbursement of the Community Safety Fund and other funding received for a new youth crime programme from the Home Office, members asked the Chairman if he felt that this process was contrary to the localism agenda. They also asked if there was an overall reduction in the Community Safety Fund and if so, would this be allocated to boroughs pro rata. The Chairman confirmed that the Fund had been reduced by approximately 20% and that as this had arrived late in the budget process. He had written to borough leaders saying that the intention was to allocate the money to boroughs, pro rata, but there was a need for them to inform the Authority on what they planned to spend the allocation on. He also informed members that he would be discussing with local authorities how to better spend money together more strategically to try to deliver some joint outcomes.

71.10 Members suggested that they had seen some information that indicated some boroughs (Enfield was specifically cited) would be receiving ‘nil’ from the Community Safety fund. The Chairman said he did not believe that any borough was receiving ‘nil’, but asked that this is checked. Members asked the Chairman to clarify what pro rata allocation of the Fund meant and was it based on the previously used Home Office criteria. The Chairman acknowledged that some boroughs might have already budgeted the money from the Fund and that this would cause some problems, but stressed that it was important that from a governance point of view there was clarity on what it was being spent on. The Chairman agreed to circulate to all members a copy of the letter that had been circulated to borough leaders.

71.11 In response to members, the Chairman agreed that he would append details of meeting he has attended in his capacity as Chairman of the Authority to future reports and that when undertaking visits to borough ensure that MPA borough link members are informed of those visits.

71.12 Following a further discussions on the possible in put by members in the transition of the MPA to the Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime (MOPC), the Chairman agreed that once the Policing Reform and Social Responsibility Bill had progressed further through Parliament, it would be useful to hold a members away day to discuss this matter.

71.13 The Chairman proposed that in light of the forthcoming Royal Wedding on 29 April 2011 and the need for senior officers to be involved in preparations for the policing of this event the full Authority meeting on the 28 April 2011 be cancelled. Members agreed to this and asked if the meeting could be bought forward, a week to 21 April. It was agreed that officers would check members availability for that date but if a significant amount of members could not attend that date then there would not be a meeting held in April.

Resolved – That the report be received.

72. Acting Commissioner’s report

(Agenda item 5)

Performance issues

72.1 The Acting Commissioner presented a report summarising recent performance in the MPS, as well as operational and initiatives designed to tackle crime and make London safer.

72.2 The Acting Commissioner informed members that total crime performance was slightly down and highlighted the flowing areas:

• Violence with injury – down nearly 6%
• Knife crime, where an injury has occurred – down nearly 3%
• Overall gun crime down to nearly 18% (514 fewer offences)
• Firearm discharges down by 8.3%
• Domestic violence shows a reduction of 5.2%
• A decrease in hate crime (but there was a caveat of underreporting).

72.3 The Acting Commissioner informed members that the MPS remained committed to maintaining community safety units and reminded them that there were currently 569 specialist hate crime investigators across the 32 boroughs. He added that following the murder Ian Baynham, the MPS were focusing on making contacts with various groups and communities to ensure that they had the confidence to come forward and report any hate crimes in order to prevent such incidents occurring.

72.4 The Acting Commissioner turned to a number of challenging areas.

72.5 He reported that burglary remained a concern. Whilst burglary was declining by 1.5%, there was concern around serious acquisitive crime. He stated that Operation Bumblebee was focusing on those that are committing this crime.

72.6 There was concern around serious acquisitive crime, which included vehicle crime and robbery, the Acting Commissioner confirmed that this had increased by 2.5%, which had increase for the first time in quite some time. He believed that vehicle crime increased could be linked to scrap metal values and that Territorial Policing are looking at this.

72.7 The Acting Commissioner confirmed that the MPS were revisiting Operation Blunt 2 initiatives in order to maintain the commitment towards taking weapons off the street.

72.8 The Acting Commissioner was sad to report another youth homicide, that of Daniel Graham, which bring the total to four so far this year. He reassured members that the MPS remained continually focused on this matter in order to prevent any further deaths.

72.9 A counter terrorism campaign to raise awareness and vigilance, focusing on re-publicising the MPS anti terror hotline had been launched. He was pleased to report that there had been a 40% increase in calls from March 2011 compared to March 2010.

72.10 The Acting Commissioner informed members of a number of public order events, including protests at the Egyptian and Libyan embassies, sporadic events involving UK uncut and the planning for larger events such as the Trade Union Congress march on 26 March 2011.

72.11 The Acting Commissioner noted that there was an item later on the agenda regarding the budget, but confirmed that it was the MPS intention to re-commence recruitment for police officers from 14 March and a starting point will be taking existing Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). He confirmed that there were 210 PCSOs who had passed the selection process and who had been waiting for recruitment to begin. He added that the MPS would be encouraging other PCSOs to apply, after which the MPS would be looking at the new scheme involving Specials as well as PCSOs.

Issues raised by members

72.12 Members had submitted a number of questions in advance of the meeting.

72.13 In order to allow full consideration of a number of other items on the agenda a number of members agreed to receive a written response to their questions to the Acting Commissioner. These included the submitted questions on:

• Mounted police
• Impact of cuts on youth crime prevention

Reducing bureaucracy to increase visible policing

72.14 Members asked the Acting Commissioner that as well as rebalancing the proportion of managerial positions to frontline policing in SNTs, what else could be done to reduce the amount of bureaucracy and inefficiency in the MPS

72.15 The Acting Commissioner noted that the question referred to a wide remit and outlined a number of initiatives where the MPS had or was working to reduce of bureaucracy and inefficiency. This included the introduction of evidence by video conference link to Croydon Court, which should free up approximately 1,200 police days a week and work being undertaken to streamline forensic process. He agreed that a more detailed briefing could be provided around efficiencies and reductions in bureaucracy.

Sergeant Meeke & local policing

72.16 Members drew attention to the work of Sergeant Kyra Meeke and her emphasis on local policing, on Arnos West estate in Southgate Green Ward, Enfield. In congratulating Sergeant Meeke, they asked the Acting Commissioner what lessons could be taken from the example set by Sergeant Meeke.

72.17 The Acting Commissioner also congratulated the work undertaken by Sergeant Meeke and that he would be speaking with the Enfield borough commander about this excellent work by the Safer Neighbourhood Teams and how and where this good practice could be shared. Arising from the discussion, members felt that this type of initiative working highlighted the excellent partnership work undertaken by Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams

72.18 Members asked a number of questions regarding Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) and these included:

• What is the total budget for SNT in 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13, broken down into total staff costs, and any other on costs, Safer Neighbourhood Bases and any other associated costs?
• What are your future plans for the work currently being carried out as part of the Diamond Districts initiative? What provision is there within the budget for 2011/12, and 2012/13 for this work?
• Are decisions about the structure of Safer Neighbourhood Teams, the levels of supervision, and the numbers of officers and PCSOs, an operational matter?
• Will a directly elected police commissioner be able to direct the police numbers allocated to every safer neighbourhood team, or is this an operational matter for the Commissioner?

72.19 The Acting Commissioner provided members with a breakdown of the total budget for SNT and agreed to circulate these to members. The Acting Commissioner added that the current medium term financial plan would see a reduction of 100 sergeants for 2011/12 and 200 sergeants in 2012/13.

72.20 Regarding the diamond districts initiative, the Acting Commissioner, confirmed that an evaluation of this initiative was being concluded by experts and criminologist soon. He added interim work was already taking place with government about the future of diamond districts and if they could be maintained going forward into the next financial year. He acknowledged that there were areas that had shown a great deal of good practice, but stressed that ‘one size did not fit all’ in the matter and that there might be a need to look at working with re-offenders with community input, but at this stage he awaited the outcome of the evaluation.

72.21 The Chairman added that there was a scheduled members’ briefing taking place on 10 March on diamond districts.

72.22 In regard to the questions relating to safer neighbourhood team structure and numbers and if these were an operational matter, the Acting Commissioner said that that there had been a lot of discussion at Authority meetings on what does operational independence mean. He reminded members that parliament was currently discussing proposals for governance of policing and that this may include what is meant by operational independence. He added that the issue for the MPS was that direction and control along with the conduct, use and deployment of staff should be a matter for the Commissioner.

72.23 In relation to PCSOs, the Acting Commissioner stated that there were no clear demarcations. The MPS, with the Authority, had established PCSOs and both organisations were passionate about this form of policing. As this form of policing was reliant on funding negotiations between the Authority, the Mayor and Home Office in order to deliver it there had to be proper negotiations. In response to members, he added that, it would be foolish in terms of decisions taken not to go through the process of engaging with the Authority and coming to a joint conclusion, as evidenced with previous safer neighbourhood discussions.

Use of CS spray

72.24 Following an incident where CS spray was used against a protester on Oxford Street on the 30 January 2011, members asked the Acting Commissioner if he felt that this was necessary and proportionate and if he was concerned that this may set a precedent for this response in future.

72.25 The Acting Commissioner stated that it was a decision made by the officer who was accountable to show that the use was proportionate based on the perceived threat. As this matter was sub judice the Acting Commissioner would not comment further

Safer Transport Command/ Red Routes

72.26 Members asked the Acting Commissioner what the replacement of traffic wardens and PCSOs and traffic wardens with officers in the Safer Transport Command would mean for road policing and enforcement. Members also asked for information regarding TfL red routes and PCSO powers to legally conduct enforcement, how would the MPS going to meet its obligated to TfL to do this work. Members also asked the Acting Commissioner how red route enforcement would take place without traffic wardens.

72.27 The Acting Commissioner confirmed that there would still be traffic PCSOs within the Safer Transport Command and that the 2010/11 contract to provide Safer Transport Command included 210 traffic warden posts. The 210 traffic warden posts would be replaced by traffic PCSOs and by police officers and the traffic warden PCSOs would have the same powers as a traffic warden and more. He stated that this would mean that they could deal with such issues as cycling on the pavement, bylaw offences and other nuisance and anti social behaviour offences and this would include a wider range of powers including enforcement of red routes. The Acting Commissioner confirmed that there was a review of the service delivery model for roads policing and enforcement activity with TfL and initial responses indicated that TfL were content with the revised model.

72.28 In response to members, the Acting Commissioner stated that the proposed model would see approximately 89 fewer people, but there would be people with more powers than current traffic wardens who would be able to enforce more issues such as safety and antisocial behaviour, which are a key objective set by the Authority.

72.29 Members asked the Commissioner if this change was going to cost more and would they require extra training. The Acting Commissioner confirmed that the amount of money being paid by TfL would be slightly less than in previous years and they would require additional training. He agreed to circulate to members details of the business case for the Safer Transport Command and replacing traffic wardens.

Other questions raised by members

Increase in knife crime

72.30 As outlined by the Acting Commissioner in his performance information to members, members noted and asked for further comment on the increase in knife crime. In particular members suggested that prevention is detection and a key deterrent that people would think they would be caught. They also asked the Acting Commissioner to comment on what he thought were the challenges in this area.

72.31 The Acting Commissioner reiterated that the rise in knife crime was linked to robbery and that this was a challenge to the MPS. He also informed members of a number of initiatives to tackle this crime and this included Blunt 2, which had seen a reduction in weaponry on the streets and which in certain hot spot areas, had seen the reintroduction of Section 60. He confirmed that Territorial Policing was looking at the offender make up in those robberies where an intimated knife threat was made (this is a recorded as a knife crime) and that the MPS knew that there were in the region of 130 individuals probably responsible for approximately 950 robberies. He added that in this respect a great deal of work was being undertaken with partners to address this increase.

72.32 The Acting Commissioner confirmed that detection and arrest rates were now increasing. He agreed with members that detection as deterrent was an aim, but this remained a challenge in terms of how those individuals were processed through the criminal justice regime. He added that it was about working to disrupt offenders and ensuring that they were held to account for their activities, with a main emphasis of focusing on prolific offenders.

72.33 In response to members he confirmed that the detection rate was currently around 20%, but there was reluctance, mainly from young people, to stand the test of the process in terms of fear as a witness and the MPS were working on this issue. He agreed that the change in the economic climate could be a factor in this increase in knife enabled crime.

SNT Sergeants

72.34 Members informed the Acting Commissioner that at a recent meeting the Mayor called for ‘a new geometry of Safer Neighbourhood Teams’. Some members felt that this represented a reduction of 100 sergeants from 2011/12 and the 200 the following year. The Mayor had also suggested that ‘only experienced sergeants would be tasked with the leadership or supervision of two or more Safer Neighbourhood Teams’. Members asked the Acting Commissioner if there was an agreed definition covering the roles and responsibilities, competencies, training and time spent in the service that would constitute an experienced sergeant. Members also asked the reorganisation of Safer Neighbourhood Teams could see a loss in consistency from sergeants. They also sought reassurance around the tenure of teams under the proposed arrangements. Members indicated that if the Acting Commissioner was not in a position to answer all the questions they would be happy to receive a written response.

72.35 The Acting Commissioner stated that in terms of experience he anticipated that this would form part of the selection process in future and he agreed to circulate to members any supporting criteria for doing this. In terms of consistency and tenure for officers, he stated that at the outset of safer neighbourhood policing the aim was to ensure teams stayed together for two year tenure. In terms of every neighbourhood having a sergeant, the proposal was that this will remain but that sergeants may have more citizens than they had before and he hoped that they would still have the same availability and accessibility. He added that this was about reducing management on cots which, in the current financial climate was something the organisation had to do.

72.36 Members asked the Acting Commissioner if this proposal was already being put in place, particularly as the MPA review of safer neighbourhoods had not submitted its findings.

72.37 The Acting Commissioner reiterated that the proposals were a management on cost reduction and that the budget for 2012/13 was very much work in progress. If the safer neighbourhood review was to present different outcomes then there would be a need to reconsider this.

72.38 Members asked the Acting Commissioner about how was transparency to the public about these developments being expressed. The Acting Commissioner confirmed that proposal for SNT were being submitted through the Authority’s Strategic and Operational Policing Committee.

Diamond districts

72.39 Following from the submitted question on diamond districts, members asked the Acting Commissioner to comment on the initiative by the Ministry of Justice, which was being piloted in Manchester and Croydon and Lewisham, around a payment by results scheme. The scheme aimed to work with partners aiming to reduce reoffending and which acknowledged that offending did produce a significant cost across society and boroughs.

72.40 The Acting Commissioner informed members that, working with the Authority, the MPS had for sometime been making a case in London about the term justice reinvestment. He stated that of the 16,000 offenders released, approximately, 60% to 70% would reoffend in the first year and it was important that this cycle must be broken. He added that one of the challenges round diamond districts was that contact between offenders on release was with the police with most arrests around possession of Class A drugs.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams

72.41 Arising from the submitted questions on safer neighbourhood teams, members referred to comments made by the Chairman of the Authority on the Politics Show on 10 February 201, where he was asked if both the Mayor and he could guarantee safer neighbourhood teams would remain in every ward. Members asked the Acting Commissioner if safer neighbourhood teams were guaranteed in every ward why had that decision not been shared with the Authority.

72.42 The Acting Commissioner reiterated that he awaited the final outcomes of the review of safer neighbourhood policing. In terms of operational independence and safer neighbourhood teams as mentioned previously this would be an issue particularly around funding where there would have to be negotiation. For other matters such as abstractions and deployments these were operational matters for the Commissioner. In relation to the make-up of safer neighbourhood teams the Acting Commissioner stated that he had to be aware of the need to change if there was evidence to that effect and following the outcomes of the review that would be negotiated through the Authority.

MPS meetings with News of the World

72.43 At the last meeting of the Authority members had asked for details of meetings held between MPS officers and staff from the News of the World. Members had been sent a list of meetings that had taken place where senior officers had meet with the News of the World.

72.44 Members now asked the Acting Commissioner if any further meetings between those officers investigating the telephone hacking allegations and the News of the World had taken place and, if so, if details of those meetings were available. The Acting Commissioner stated that he would need to check if that information was available and if so he would provide it. Members also questioned if senior officers should have been meeting with the News of the World, particularly when a high profile investigation was in progress. The Acting Commissioner stated any meetings would have taken place with the full knowledge of the importance of confidentiality and matters that were sub-judice. He also added that despite the on-going investigations there was a need to continue with business as usual with the hierarchy of organisations. He also agreed that where possible to provide further details of meetings between officers and senior executives of News International.

Key Performance Indicators

72.45 Members asked the Acting Commissioner to comment on the comparisons with similar forces outlined in the key performance indicators of his report. Members indicated that the report showed that in 16 of the 18 areas the MPS were in the lower half of the table. Some members suggested that one approach to improve this would be to add them as a key performance indicator that was based on the end of a three year period.

72.46 The Acting Commissioner stated that there was a robust discussion taking place with HMIC as how to the measuring process should operate and he hoped that there would be one which was based against resident populations. Giving an example that a person in London could say that as a resident of London you have the lowest risk of being subjected to a violent crime, this statement would be true if were using the British Crime Survey. Alternatively using MPS recorded crime data would indicate the opposite. He felt that resident populations against crime figures were not fair to London and that London should be judged on how it has performed against London before. He also added that this is based on the assumption that resident population figures for the country were accurate.

Police Officer recruitment/numbers

72.47 In noting the lifting of the police officer recruitment freeze, members asked the Acting Commissioner, if he was confident that PCSOs/Specials where best placed to fill the new vacancies and if those who had been placed on waiting lists had been properly informed of what the current recruitment process is in terms of it applying to existing PCSOs and traffic wardens only.

72.48 The Acting Commissioner outlined the proposals for the recruitment of police officers from current PCSOs/Specials, adding that they were representative and although they would require further training they already possessed a wide range of skills. He clarified that there were a number of people who had partially completed the selection process. These people were not on a waiting list and had not been given an offer of a job. They had been contacted not encouraged to become a Special Constable to have access to the new recruitment process.

72.49 Some members raised concerns that the Mayor had made misleading statements that about the number of police officers, stating that the proposed unfreezing of recruitment would see an increase in police officer numbers. Members stated that under the current Mayor there would be 32,510 officers by May 2012, up from 31,398 when he took office, however, in November 2009, numbers had reached a peak of 33,404 and that this was following budget plans laid out by the previous Mayor. They added that since the recruitment freeze and increasing numbers of officers leaving the number had fallen. Some members added that the MPS figures showed that between 2010/11 and 2011/12 there would be a fall of 581 police officers (from 33,091 to 32,510), with similar decreases in PCSOs, traffic wardens and police staff numbers.

72.50 The Chairman clarified for members that there were two sets of figures, establishment and strength figures. Strength figures were the figures of police officers on the pay roll and the establishment figures were those that go into the budget. He suggested that the Mayor had stated that numbers were falling due to the hold on recruitment and now that the freeze on recruitment had been lifted this could rise to 32,500. He did not believe he was using the establishment figures. He agreed that the figures may be confusing, but he did not believe they were misleading.

Safer Schools Team

72.51 Members asked the Acting Commissioner how the reduction in headcount of Safer Schools Teams will affect the service offered to schools.

72.52 The Acting Commissioner reminded members of the development of the safer schools initiative and the subsequent links developed by safer neighbourhood teams and schools. He confirmed that Territorial Policing was considering as part of its review how it could continue those school partnerships and this work was ongoing, but he added that at this stage it was possible that there would be an increase in police officers in schools, but a decrease in PCSOs. He assured members that the Territorial Policing review and safer school partnerships would be brought back to the Authority. He also agreed to make sure that any changes in the establishment of officers in schools would shared with the appropriate MPA link member.

72.53 Those issues that the Acting Commissioner undertook to report back on to members have been circulated in the form of an addendum report and are appended to these minutes at Appendix 1.

Resolved – That the report be received.

73. Policing London Business Plan

(Agenda item 6)

73.1 This report was not circulated within the statutory five working days and therefore the Chairman agreed to receive it as urgent. The grounds for urgency were that the report was late following the need for it to be considered at the joint Strategic and Operation Policing/Finance and Resources Committees the previous week and the need to include members’ views and comments

73.2 Members considered a report in conjunction with previously circulated reports to the joint Strategic and Operation Policing/Finance and Resources Committees held on 17 February 2011. The report summarised progress to date on the draft Policing London Business Plan 2011-14, following the publication of the Mayor’s draft budget, notably the closure of the previously identified budget gap of £11.9m for 201/12.

73.3 Some members expressed disappointment that having put forward a number of amendments to the budget they had not received any feedback on if any had been accepted or refused and if so the grounds for refusal. The Chairman, whilst acknowledging members’ frustration, stated that there had been considerable time constraints around the detailed work budget and it had not been possible to provide feedback before the budget came for consideration. He also added that not all negotiations had been concluded and that when there was capacity to do so those proposals could be looked at in relation to future budgets The Chairman added that where he could he did hope to inform members of why amendments had been declined.

73.4 Members asked in terms of the final budget paper being presented to the March Authority meeting it would be useful if those papers were clear around police numbers. Members also asked for clarity around those officers that are match funded by boroughs.

73.5 The Chairman confirmed that negotiations were on-going with boroughs on match funding for police officers. He added that the current budget makes provision for 54 officers that are part of this scheme and available for deployment. If there were further demand for match funding posts, additional funding would need to be provided.

73.6 In response to members, the Chairman confirmed that the key performance indicators would be presented to the March joint meeting of Strategic and Operational Policing and Finance and Resources Committee and he asked that the final version of the Business Plan be circulated in good time for members to consider it at the March full Authority.

Resolved – That

1. the draft 2011-14 Policing London Business Plan as submitted to the joint Strategic and Operational Policing and Finance and Resources Committees on 17 February and the revised funding limit as reflected in the Mayor’s draft budget for 2011/12 be noted;
2. the outcome of the extraordinary member briefings on Key Performance Indicators and the budget; the joint Strategic and Operational Policing and Finance and Resources Committees held on 17 February; and the process for finalising the 2011-14 Policing London Business Plan set out at that meeting be noted;
3. the final version of the letter sent from the Chief Executive to the Mayor on 1 February (attached as Appendix 4) be noted; and
4. the actions underway to take forward the points raised at the 17 February joint meeting of the Strategic and Operational Policing and Finance and Resources Committees be noted.

74. Draft borrowing and capital spending plan 2011/12 to 2017/18

(Agenda item 7)

74.1 This report was not circulated within the statutory five working days and therefore the Chairman agreed to receive it as urgent. The grounds for urgency were that the report was late following the need for it to be considered at the joint Strategic and Operation Policing/Finance and Resources Committees the previous week and the need to include members’ views and comments

Resolved – That

1. proposed funding plan for 2011/12 to 2017/18, subject to the proviso that the spend and funding outturn for 2010/11 and its impact on 2011/12 by project slippage has yet to be determined. (Appendix 1 of the report refers) be approved;
2. the Capital Programme be limited to those projects noted as essential (Appendix 2 of the report refers) and that the approach to managing the capital programme is adopted within available funds (paragraph 25 refers) be approved;
3. projects on the Reserve list (Appendix 3 of the report refers) will not be progressed at all during 2011/12 and may be deleted from the future programme unless a more robust business case is constructed or additional funding identified be noted;
4. the Borrowing and Spending Plan 2011/12 to 2017/18 for inclusion within the Policing London Business Plan 2011-14 (paragraphs 8 - 12 refer) be agreed;
5. the funding of feasibility studies to facilitate prompt starts on the 2011/12 programme with the aim of reducing year on year slippage.(paragraph 23 refers) be approved; and
6. funding of the Hendon Rationalisation Project beyond 2011/12 is subject to further deliberation (paragraph 21 of the report refers) be noted.

75. Mayor’s proposal to develop a compulsory alcohol sobriety scheme for London

(Agenda item 8)

75.1 Members received a report that provided details of the Mayor’s proposals to develop a compulsory sobriety scheme for London

75.2 The report, which had been prepared by the GLA, indicated that the proposed scheme advocated an enforcements approach providing specific powers for the courts to mandate sobriety as an order for alcohol related violence offences. Members were informed that the Mayor has tabled an amendment to the Policing and Social Responsibility Bill for changes in the current law to enable the courts to make this order. They were also informed that compulsory alcohol requirements would involve twice daily testing and failure will result in immediate breach and sanctions, such as custody.

75.3 Members asked if the Chairman if the compulsory scheme was dependent on the Mayor’s tabled amendments being accepted and would the scheme have to be formally accepted by the Authority.

75.4 The Chairman confirmed that the Mayor‘s amendments to the legislation were to give specific powers, one of which was that the testing was self financing, so to an extent it was dependent of those amendments being accepted. He agreed that he would be looking to bring any final scheme back to the Authority, but added that this was a Mayoral initiative. The Chief Executive added that this was an opportunity for the MPA to take a collective or independent view and suggested that the appendix to the report could be used to share with borough partners.

75.5 A number of members sought clarification around the breach rate, which in South Dakota had was very low, and if that was the case was it tackling the right people. Members also asked about reducing reoffending.

75.6 The Chairman provided members with details of academic research, which included that approximately 66% of people and complaint and 17% fail once and then pass. He agreed to circulate these finding to members.

75.7 Some members had reservations about the individuals having to pay for the testing, particularly those not being able to afford it. Members also asked about a business case for the scheme and asked for some clarification around young people and if there would be parental permission would be built into the scheme. Members also suggested that there was a need to understand the different cultural difference between South Dakota and London and the effects on success of the scheme if initially there are low levels of compliance.

75.8 The Chairman confirmed that the business case would be presented as part of the legislative process in the House of Commons and would be available. In response to members, he also confirmed that if the scheme was introduced then it was likely to be on a pilot basis. In relation to parental permission, the Chairman stated that the scheme was designed for those who were convicted of a crime. In terms of the young people, some amendments deal specifically with young people

Resolved – That the report be noted.

76. Reports from committees

(Agenda item 9)

76.1 The Authority received a report outlining key issues that had been considered at recent Authority Committee meetings. The report covered the following meetings:

• Strategic and Operational Policing Committee– 13 January 2011
• Finance and Resources Committee – 20 January 2011

Resolved – That the report be received;

77. MPA calendar of meetings 2011/12

(Agenda item 10)

77.1 Members were asked to consider the MPA Calendar of meetings for its formal committees meetings for September 2011 to July 2012.

Resolved – That the calendar of meetings given at Appendix 1 to the report be agreed.

78. Action taken under delegated Authority

(Agenda item 11)

78.1 Members received a report that provided details on action taken by the Chief Executive under delegated authority on the grounds of urgency.

Resolved – That the report be received.

79. Any other urgent business

(Agenda item 12)

79.1 There were no items of urgent business.

The meeting closed at 12.40 p.m.

Appendix 1

Addendum to the Commissioner's report

Report by the Commissioner

This report follows up on the actions and commitments made verbally by the Commissioner at the Full Authority meeting on 24 February 2011.

The Commissioner committed to provide an update to Members on the following issues:

•  Written response to questions from Members
• Efficiency Initiatives
• Meetings with News International
•  Commencement of Recruitment
•  Safer Transport Command
•  SNT Sergeants
• Safer School Teams

Written response to questions from Members

1. Members asked for written responses regarding the below questions

•  Mounted Police
•  Impact of cuts on youth crime prevention

Responses sent to be sent to the MPA by 30 March 2011.

Efficiency Initiatives

2. The Acting Commissioner agreed to provide Members with details of efficiency initiatives that best serve the interest of justice. Briefing note to be provided to MPA Members by 30 March 2011.

Meeting with News International

3. The Acting Commissioner agreed to circulate, if still available, details meetings between senior officers with senior executives of the News of the World and News International. Information to be sent to the MPA.

Commencement of Recruitment

4. Members asked for information about the commencement of officer recruitment from PCSO / MSC and information provided to applicants regarding the new system of entry into the MPS. The Acting Commissioner agreed to circulate this information to Members.

Safer Transport Command

5. The Acting Commissioner agreed to provide information regarding the business rationale for the new service delivery model within Safer Transport Command. This information will be provided to the MPA by 20 March.

SNT Sergeants

6. The Acting Commissioner agreed to provide information on the criteria for selecting sergeants for future Safer Neighbourhood Teams. This information will be provided to the MPA by 30 March 2011.

Safer Schools Teams

7. The Acting Commissioner agreed to provide information on plans for Safer Schools Partnerships and how Members will be updated when changes are made to the current establishment. A Written response will be provided to the MPA by 25th March 2011.

Report author: Zara Ryder, Strategic Relationships, MPS

Background papers None

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