Minutes - draft

These minutes are draft and are to be agreed.

Minutes of the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 31 March 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 (items 1-5)
• Christopher Boothman
• Victoria Borwick
• Valerie Brasse
• Cindy Butts
• James Cleverly
• Dee Doocey (items 1-5)
• Toby Harris
• Neil Johnson
• Jenny Jones
• Clive Lawton
• Joanne McCartney
• Steve O’Connell
• Caroline Pidgeon
• Amanda Sater
• Valerie Shawcross
• Graham Speed

MPA officers

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

MPS officers

• Tim Godwin (Acting Commissioner)
• John Yates (Acting Deputy Commissioner)
• Lynne Owens Assistant Commissioner (Central Operations) (Items 1-5)
• Anne McMeel (Director of Resources)

80. Apologies for absence and announcements

(Agenda item 1)

80.1 Apologies for absence were received from Faith Boardman, Kirsten Hearn and the Commissioner.

81. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

81.1 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.

82. Minutes: 24 February 2011

(Agenda item 3)

82.1 Members considered the minutes of the Authority meeting held on 24 February 2011.

82.2 It was noted that members had been circulated details of meetings between senior MPS officers and News International journalists, it was suggested that this was not a complete list and the Acting Commissioner agreed that this would be checked and if necessary re-circulated to members.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Authority meeting held on 24 February 2011 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

83. Chairman’s update

(Agenda item 4)

83.1 The Chairman provided members with a report that updated them on the key successes and meetings since the last Authority meeting. These included:

83.2 Congratulating both Mark Simmons and Steven Kavanagh on their recent successful appointments to the rank of Deputy Assistant Commissioner.

84.3 He also highlighted a number of awards and commendations that recognised the excellent work of the MPS and individual officers and staff. He noted that a Trident family liaison officer had been awarded ‘FLO of the year’ in recognition of his efforts to support the family of a south London murder victim. A number of special constables had been recognised by senior officers for having shown exceptional dedication and achievement at a recent ceremony and Hero’s week took place just after the last Full Authority meeting. Commissioner’s commendations and Royal Humane Society certificates had been awarded to officers and members of the public who showed extreme bravery in their actions to protect the public and save the lives of the people of London.

83.4 The Chairman acknowledged the call handling support that the MPS provided to the Japan earthquake and tsunami operation noting that MPS staff dealt with 850 calls over 51 hours from concerned friends and relatives.

83.5 The Chairman informed members that the Police Reform and Social Responsibility (PRSR) Bill was currently at its third reading and was being monitored by MPA officers. In relation to this he had attended the ministerial PCC transition sponsorship board in March and gave an update, with the Deputy Chief Executive, on the feasibility of early implementation of the new arrangements on London. Discussions with the Home Office to ensure that there are no obstacles for this implementation continue.

83.6 He informed members that discussions to finalise the Policing London Budget and Business Plan have been ongoing and is again an agenda item for this meeting.

883.7 Members were reminded that the second round of Joint Engagement Meetings, which focus on violent crime, continue to be a success. Since the last Full Authority he had chaired meetings with Hounslow, Wandsworth and Newham boroughs.

83.8 He had also attended a useful training session on the new Equalities Act 2010 and the implications for the MPS and MPA along with other members.

83.9 For members information the Chairman added that he had continued to attend a number of meetings as Chairman of the Authority. A list was included at Appendix 1 to the report.

83.10 In conclusion the Chairman stated that the London Crime Reduction Board had met in early March and considered a number of issues, including a piece of work intended to scope and secure adequate provision across London of refuge spaces for women and girls suffering domestic violence, progress of the multi-agency anti-violence partnership and the Ministry of Justice financial incentive model pilot (payment by results) being developed in six London boroughs. Officers are also discussing a community safety funds project, which will consider and develop options for the allocation across London of the funds by the MOPC from 2012/13 onwards.

Resolved – That the report be received.

84. Acting Commissioner’s Report

(Agenda item 5)

Daniel Morgan

84.1 The Chairman informed members that the family and friends of Daniel Morgan where in attendance at the meeting and he was joined by members in expressing his and their sympathy and disappointment following the collapse of the trial into Daniel Morgan’s murder.

84.2 The Acting Commissioner added that members would recall that Daniel was murdered in 1987 and over the past 24 years the MPS had failed to achieve justice for the family and for Daniel. This culminated in the recent acquittal of one person and others following a trial. He informed members that he had written to the Morgan family to express both his concerns and apologies for this failure and he then read the following extract from that letter:

‘I am deeply sorry that the MPS has failed to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of Daniel. The MPS has accepted that police corruption, in the original investigation, was a significant factor in this failure. As you know, corruption in its various forms formed a major line of inquiry in the most recent investigation.

I recognise how important this is to both you and your family and that this is acknowledged publicly. You are entitled to an apology not only for this failure but also for the repeated failure of the MPS, my organisation, over the many years following Daniel’s murder to accept that corruption had played such a part in failing to bring those responsible to justice. Furthermore I am also very sorry that, for many years, your concerns regarding the failure of the MPS to bring those persons to justice were not properly addressed, and they were not. I recognise that this apology cannot alter the deep sense of loss, frustration, anger and distress that you and your family experience and have suffered since Daniel’s murder.

The MPS is a very different organisation now to the one it was at the time of Daniel’s murder. That said, we accept that there are lessons to be learned arising from the discontinuance of this latest trial. To this end, and together with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), we are now engaged in a joint review to ensure that relevant issues, particularly in relation to disclosure and the handling of tainted witnesses, are understood and addressed as soon as possible. Above all, we recognise the consequences of the repeated failure of the MPS over the years to confront the role played by police corruption in protecting those responsible for the murder to be brought to justice.’

84.3 The Acting Commissioner added that in October 2009, the Serious Crime Directorate had taken responsibility for the investigation into Daniel’s murder and that this had resulted in the recent trial and subsequent acquittal. He concluded by stating that he was deeply sorry for this failure and again offered the family his sympathies.

84.4 At the invitation of the Chairman Jennette Arnold made the following statement to members:

‘Twenty four years after Daniel’s murder the MPS has finally admitted that its first investigation of this crime was crippled by police corruption. We were aware of this within three weeks of the murder. We said so then and we have been saying so ever since. Through two decades and more of police protest, meeting with police officers at the highest ranks, lobbying of politicians and pleas to the media we have found ourselves lied to, fobbed off, bullied, degraded and let down time and time again. What we have been required to endure has been nothing short of torture.

When we last came to the MPA in 2005 [and many Members sitting round this table will remember when I raised this matter on behalf of the family then] we had been told by the MPS that we could not look to the criminal justice for anything more after four failed investigations. We had also been told by the Home Office that we could not look to them for any scrutiny of what had taken place. We then approached the MPA to seek support for our call for a judicial inquiry into the handling of Daniel’s murder by the MPS. The response of the MPA, at that stage, was, to its credit, for the first time in two decades, we found persons in authority who were not afraid of taking responsibility for the implications of the police corruption that had blighted our lives. It was in that context that the MPS announced that it had decided to reopen the case and, after much hesitation, we again offered it our full trust and support.

Six years later after a collapsed prosecution and millions spent from the public purse a full judicial inquiry into the handling of this case by the MPS is even more urgently required. The family therefore calls upon the MPA and returns to this body again today to seek support for their call for a full judicial inquiry. Mindful of the words uttered by Assistant Commissioner John Yates at a meeting with Kit Malthouse, our Chairman, and Mayor Boris Johnson in February 2009 [and I was there to witness this statement], “This case is one of the most deplorable episodes in the entire history of the MPS. This family has been treated disgracefully”.

84.5 A number of written questions had been submitted to the Acting Commissioner regarding the ‘Morgan Case’ and these included:

• Following the recent collapse of the Daniel Morgan murder trial, members drew attention to the comments made by Detective Chief Supt Campbell, who said ‘This has been a long and difficult ordeal for the family, and we have offered them our heartfelt sympathies’.
• Members asked if the Acting Commissioner agreed with them that any statement on this matter should have come from his office, and would he today make a statement on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service.
• In addition members stated that the family of Daniel Morgan feel that they were left with no option but to call for a full judicial inquiry into the handling of the case by the Metropolitan Police Service and the Crown Prosecution Service and asked what is the Acting Commissioner’s response to this. Members also asked if the Acting Commissioner, on behalf of the MPS would support the Morgan’s family request for a judicial review.

84.6 The Acting Commissioner confirmed that both the Crown Prosecution Services and MPS were reviewing the outcomes of this case. He felt and stated that the Morgan family themselves had indicated that the MPS were a different organisation, but acknowledged that this was too late for them. He suggested that some time public inquiries can slow down a process and he was not sure if this was the right way to move forward, however, the matter of inquires were the remit of the Home Secretary.

84.7 Members felt that this matter had been going on for a long time and that despite the best efforts of the MPS, the MPS had failed to deliver the outcome that the family were looking for. In terms of moving forward there was very little that either the MPA or the MPS could do and the majority of members supported the family’s request for support to make representations to the Home Secretary to initiate a judicial review.

884.8 Members requested that it be put to the vote that the MPA make representations to the Home Secretary to initiate a judicial review into the Daniel Morgan case. All members voted in favour.

David Emmanuel

84.9 Members acknowledged that the family and friends of David Emmanuel, also known as Smiley Culture, were in attendance at the meeting. MPS officers had attended Mr Emmanuel’s house to execute a search warrant. Later the same morning an ambulance had been called by the MPS officers. An air ambulance crew had arrived but Mr Emmanuel died at the scene. .

84.10 The Acting Commissioner confirmed that he had spoken to a member of David Emmanuel’s family, who was in attendance in the public gallery, prior to the meeting and explained that as there was an ongoing independent investigation he was unable to discuss this case in any detail. As mentioned in relation to the discussion about the Daniel Morgan case, the Acting Commissioner, felt that the MPS had come a considerable way in terms of relationships with communities and the trust that now existed between those communities and the police and it was important that this trust was maintained and not taken for granted. Therefore, it was important that the IPCC did everything it could to ensure that Mr Emmanuel’s family and friends were kept informed of the details of the on-going investigation. He concluded by offering his sympathy to Mr Emmanuel’s family and friends.

84.11 Members raised a number of questions which included:

• Were the MPS satisfied with the links it had in order to ensure that the black community were kept informed about this case.
• Was he concerned about some of the information arising from the briefings that were being released about this case.
• As a Gold Group had been established why was there not any representative from the Lambeth Police Consultative Group on it.

84.12 The Acting Commissioner stated that the MPS had a considerable amount of experience of using advisory groups and reaching out to communities. He agreed with members that the Lambeth Police Consultative Group was a very effective and useful mechanism for bringing together the community and the police and in relation to representation on the Gold Group this was an issue he wanted to look at. He was not clear to what briefing was being referred to and was not convinced that those in the public domain were official briefings.

Due to a disturbance in the public gallery the meeting stood adjourned for 15 minutes.

84.13 Members, whilst acknowledging the improvements the MPS had made in its work and relationships with communities, stated that there was a need to do much more and avoid complacency. It was felt that there were strong links between the way in which the black community was policed and the kinds of demonstrations that had occurred in the public gallery during the meeting and that the two cannot be disassociated. It was felt that the day to day experiences by the black community were damaging public confidence, there had to be support for enforcement to deal with knife and gun crime, but this had to go hand in hand with both support and prevention work.

84.14 Members also suggested that in specific cases such as those of Mr Emmanuel’s a statement that no comment can be provided due to ongoing investigations, whilst understandable in terms of not wishing to prejudice a case, might not always be appropriate and that thought should be given to meeting individuals so that this can be discussed in everyday language.

84.15 Members also raised concerns that changes to governance structures could leave a void and where would the visible answerability of the MPS be in these types of distressing cases

84.16 The Chairman informed members that he had regular meetings with the IPCC and that he would be asking that they ensured that they make sure that the investigation was conducted as swiftly and thoroughly as possible.

Delroy Grant – Operation Minstead

84.17 Members noted the recent conviction of Delroy Grant, for a series of burglaries and sexual assaults in south-east London.

84.18 Whilst welcoming this conviction members asked a number of questions which included; what went wrong and what lessons had been learnt from the investigation and recent conviction of Delroy Grant for horrific rapes and assaults on vulnerable elderly residents in south-east London.

84.19 The Acting Commissioner firstly apologised to the victims of Delroy Grant adding that he was extremely sorry for the trauma suffered by all his victims and the MPS’s failure to bring him to justice much earlier.

84.20 The Acting Commissioner confirmed that after Delroy Grant was arrested it was identified that a mistake had been made in 1999 where an opportunity to apprehend him had been missed. The IPCC investigated this matter and words of advice were given to two officers. He added that the MPS had learned lessons from this investigation.

84.21 Members raised a number of questions and these included;

• Was the Acting Commissioner confident that supervision was enacted properly in this case.
• Why were the MPA never fully briefed on this case and members having to find out its information via the media.
• Whilst acknowledging this was a horrific case could the Acting Commissioner reassure members and the public that this was the last of these historic cases

84.22 The Acting Commissioner stated that he could not give reassurances around a similar mistake occurring in the future, particularly due to the volume of incidents that the MPS had to deal with. He added that the MPS worked very hard to have the best trained officers with the right values focusing on doing the right thing, but this could not guarantee that a mistake would not be made. Regarding supervision, the Acting Commissioner informed members that in 1999 the MPS established Sapphire, the creation of the Havens and an increased focus on work around serious sexual assaults. Supervision since 1999 was now considerably different. He confirmed that in terms of review processes there had been long periods where there had been no offending and that the review process had been built into the Serious Crime Directorate functionally. The Chairman added that in terms of information to members, link borough members had been provided with confidential briefings and he and the Business Management Group maintained a risk register which Operation Minstead was included and discussed.

84.23 Members noted that a number of males from the black community had voluntarily provided DNA samples to aid this investigation. Members asked for information on the process for destroying these DNA samples now that Delroy Grant had been convicted, and the Acting Commissioner agreed to provide this information.

84.24 It was agreed that members, following the completion of a case review should be offered a full debrief around this case.

TUC march 26 March 2011

84.25 Members asked the Acting Commissioner if he was satisfied with the MPS policing of the demonstrations on Saturday 26 March in central London.

84.26 The Acting Commissioner stated that in relation to the TUC march he was satisfied that the MPS had policed this event well. He thanked both those who attended the march and those who were stewards for ensuring that the march was peaceful.

84.27 He then moved on to discuss those groups that in his opinion had used the TUC march to splinter off and move around to different areas of central London which were not part of the official route and carry out acts of violence and criminal damage. He confirmed that a number of people had attempted to damage the Olympic clock in Trafalgar Square and this had lead MPS officers having to contain a number of people. If informed members of the number of arrests made following the breakaway from the main march and informed members of details of intelligence gather prior to the march.

84.28 Members supported the Acting Commissioner in noting that the TUC March had been policed well and asked that their thanks to the Commander and officers be noted.

84.29 Members asked the Assistant Commissioner for Central Operations for information regarding those people who had occupied Fortnum and Masons Store and in particular why where some told that they could leave only to be subsequently arrested and charged with aggravated trespass.

84.30 The Assistant Commissioner outlined the command structure for the march and stated that there may have been some communication issues and that she did not believe that there was a deliberate move to mislead people. She added that aggravated trespassing should not be minimised and was a criminal offence. The MPS had been supported by the Crown Prosecution Service around these charges and that these charges would be tested in court. The Assistant Commissioner confirmed that there were police officers in the store at various times during the occupation.

84.31 Members asked a number of other questions and these included:

• Following the extensive use of social networks to disseminate information during the demonstrations, had the MPS decided to use marking technologies.
• What were the elements of the offence of aggravated trespass?
• The Home Secretary had mentioned that she was looking at new laws to enable police to stop potential perpetrators before they get to locations, is this something that the MPS would welcome.
• A number of members raised concerns about the weapons used by the splinter groups.
• Members asked if the MPS were aware and in future going to stop demonstrators from accessing public house before going onto cause problems.
• Should known trouble makers planning to attend demonstrations, like known football hooligans, be asked to report to police stations.
• Can members be provided with details about the number of abstractions?
• Should there be a review of officers protective clothing, particularly those protecting the face?

84.32 The Assistant Commissioner felt that the question from members fell into four themes. Regarding intelligence matters and contrary to media comments, the MPS had been engaged in a considerable amount of intelligence matters. She added that in terms of having so many people in custody this gave the MPS a good starting point for intelligence and building on that in terms of moving to future events. In terms of offences, the Assistant Commissioner, suggested that she could circulate a briefing note to members, but added that the whole of the previous week there had been a series of peaceful protests including sit down protests which had ended without any arrests having to be made.

84.33 Regarding the use of new technologies and social networks, the Assistant Commissioner confirmed that the social networks were monitored and the MPS responded accordingly. The Home Secretary announcement of possible additional powers being granted to the police, she stated, was a matter for Parliament to decide. However, there were ongoing debriefs following the demonstration and there may be lessons on how to do things differently in future.

84.34 The Assistant Commissioner concurred with members that there needed to be caution around how stop and search might be used. She confirmed that mutual aid was used to police the demonstration and that officers did come under attack from a number of groups using weapons which included light bulbs filled with ammonia. In relation to the events in Oxford Street and Regents Street it was important where possible to have business as usual, but it was also important not to see what was happening there in isolation as moving officers on mass could have been detrimental to other areas.

84.35 In response to members concerns about protective clothing, particularly those protecting the face, the Assistant Commissioner, added that in order to facilitate peaceful protests, officers are not issued with the ‘NATO style’ helmets, which include Perspex visors, unless it is deemed necessary. In accordance with guidelines when a situation has calmed down helmets are removed and on some occasions officers have been subsequently injured.

Police recruitment

84.36 The Acting Commissioner was pleased to inform members that recruitment of police officers had commenced. He informed members that on 14 March 193 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) were sworn in to commence training as police officers. He confirmed that recruitment would now focus on Special Constables and more PSCOs.

Issues raised by members

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

84.38 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:

• Vacancies in Safer Neighbourhood teams
• Legal advice

Access to police databases

84.39 In relation to access to police databases members asked what mechanisms are in place to monitor unlawful access of police databases by serving police officers and police staff.

84.40 The Acting Commissioner confirmed that access to MPS database was granted on a need to know basis and all users were given training which included awareness of the policies that governed acceptable use. Users were required to renew their agreement to abide by these policies every three months. He added that the Directorate of Professional Standards operated a strong proactive and reactive investigatory capability to tackle misuse and any corruption and all MPS systems were subject to minimum standards of audit data quality. He also confirmed that the three highest risk systems were subject to dip sample transaction validation processes. He agreed to circulate to members the number of staff that had been disciplined for misuse of this information.

Membership of Masonic lodges

84.41 Members asked the Acting Commissioner, how many ACPO officers within the MPS are members of any Masonic lodge, and was there a requirement to declare any such membership?

84.42 The Acting Commissioner confirmed that the MPS did not hold a voluntary internal register and therefore there was no information for ACPO officers. He was aware that in 1999, Home Office guidance suggested officers should be asked to provide this information on a voluntary basis, but was not clear who or how this operated. He did recall the Authority discussing this matter a number of years ago, but was not sure if it was leading on this matter.

Community Safety Accreditation Scheme

84.43 Members asked the Acting Commissioner what rules and guidance were in place regarding the type of person/organisation that can become accredited under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme. They also asked the Acting Commissioner what would be the effect of the Home Office decision to accredit 15 private security guards with ‘limited policing powers’ to operate around Victoria coach and train stations.

84.44 The Acting Commissioner informed members that the Police Reform Act 2002 allowed chief officers to accredit persons under Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS), with limited powers if considered appropriate for the purpose of contributing to community safety and in the co-operation with the police force for the area, combating crime disorder, public nuisance and other forms of anti-social behaviour. He also informed members of ACPO guidance to forces wishing to take part in CSAS and that the MPS had a standard operational procedure for those BOCUs wishing to take part in CSAS. Any company wishing to take part in CSAS in the MPS is required to be approved as being fit and proper company by ACPO CPI, the company set up by ACPO to act as their crime prevention arm. He added that all persons accredited under CSAS within the MPS would have to be vetted to the same level as police officers.

84.45 The Acting Commissioner stated that regarding Westminster developing partnerships with other responsible agencies, whilst it was essential to achieve an aim of making Westminster a safer and more secure place and the scheme would have to be reviewed on a regular basis by the MPS.

84.46 In relation to monitoring and public complaints, the Acting Commissioner confirmed that quarterly monitoring reports would be sent to the MPS on a variety of activities including use of powers, impact on fear of crime and activity analysis. The employer and or organisation must have established and maintain satisfactory arrangements for handling of complaints. In addition, the MPS may require access to individual complaints records to satisfying itself that the complaints system was fit for purpose.

84.47 A number of members remain uncomfortable with powers being given to private security companies and the Acting Commissioner confirmed that the MPS would keep the scheme under review.

Uneven spread in police overtime

84.48 Members drew attention to recent comments that officers in the Metropolitan Police Service earn an average of £4,271 in overtime. They also stated that a recent article claimed one public protection officer received £67,000 in overtime. Members asked the Acting Commissioner for confirmation about how much, on average, does an MPS police officer in the VIP protection team earn and how much, on average, does an MPS police officer in a SN Team and an MPS response team officer receive?

84.49 The Acting Commissioner reminded members that the policing of London was a twenty four hours seven days a week operation and that as well as capital city responsibilities the services also had national responsibilities, which often lead to a requirement to work beyond normal hours. He added that in relation to close protection work this means that there are significant periods of overtime working to ensure on the principals of safety and that protection costs are in the main covered by Home Offices DSP Grant.

84.50 He reminded members that since 2005 the MPS had been focussing on the reduction of overtime and this had resulted in a significant reduction in the average hours of overtime worked each year per eligible officer. He confirmed that there was a 35% reduction in annual overtime expenditure and that this had equated to savings of approximately £60m, adding that reductions were against a background of increased public order pressure.

Online crime tracking

84.51 Members asked the Acting Commissioner if he would support a London online initiative, similar to Avon and Somerset’s website TrackMyCrime, which would allow victims to follow up on crime investigations and be updated electronically.

84.52 The Acting Commissioner informed members that under the service strategy one issue under review was how can the MPS keep citizens better informed, particularly around crimes that affect them. However, due the size of the MPS it might be easy to implement such a scheme but may be difficult from a technical and cost issue. If these issues could be resolved then it was an initiative that the MPS would look at.

News of the World Phone Hacking

84.53 Members raised a number of questions regarding the on-going investigations relating to telephone hacking by News of the World journalists. These included:

• Could the Acting Commissioner clarify whether the MPS's understanding of CPS advice regarding the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 had any bearing on the way allegations of phone hacking were investigated by the police? If so to what extent.
• Could the Acting Commissioner clarify the precise details of CPS advice during the course of the original inquiry and subsequent review
• Could the Acting Commissioner disclose the two letters from the DPP in 2009 referred to by ADC Yates in evidence to the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 24 March 2011.
• Did the MPS's understanding of the CPS advice have any bearing on how the MPS categorised actual and potential victims? If so, how?
• Why did the MPS not fully examine and collate ‘bin bags’ of evidence available at the time of the original inquiry?

84.54 The Acting Deputy Commissioner drew members’ attention to his recent attendance at a Home Affairs Select Committee and that he had circulated to members a copy of the letters that he had submitted to the select committee which he felt outlined details of the inquiry. He also outlined previous advice that the MPS had received. The Acting Deputy Commissioner added that as there was an ongoing investigation he wanted to be very cautious about there being more potential suspects. In response to members’ questions about possibly sharing advice he had received, the Acting Deputy Commissioner stated that these were not his to share and they were privileged to the CPS and at this stage he is seeking advice on permission to disclose them.

84.55 In response to members questions about potential victims and a wider definition of offences and did this mean there were a wider range of victims, the Acting Deputy Commissioner stated that this was a matter for the new investigation. Regarding comments made at the select Committee that the MPS did not fully examine and collate extensive pieces of evidence in 2006, the Acting Deputy Commissioner confirmed it was looked at and reviewed at the time by Counsel on the basis of indictment, possibly not in detail, but it would form part of the new investigation.

Other questions raised by members

Stockwell shooting

84.56 Following a recent shooting incident in Stockwell, in which a five year old girl and a 35 year old male were critically injured, Members joined the Acting Commissioner in expressing their outrage at this attack and for their best wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured to be noted. Members also asked the Acting Commissioner to ensure that the community were kept informed of the on-going investigation and to engage with the community in helping bring those responsible to justice.

84.57 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.

85. Policing London Business Plan

(Agenda item 6)

85.1 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.

85.2 Members considered a report that proposed the final Policing London Business Plan 2011-14 and which summarised the main changes to the draft discussed at the joint Strategic and Operational Policing and Finance and Resources Committees (SOP/F&R) on 17 March 2011. The report recommended that the Authority formally approve the Plan, setting out MPS priorities for 2011-14 and activity for 2011/12 within a legally balanced budget.

85.3 The Chairman confirmed that the report had been discussed at joint meetings of the Strategic and Operational Policing and Finance and Resources Committees at which the key performance indicators had been negotiated and agreed. He confirmed that the alternative budget amendments were looked at but there was limited time to develop them into a full business case. He stated that there could be scope during the year to review these and incorporate them as variations.

85.4 Members asked the Chairman to confirm details of his discussions with ACPO around ACPO subscriptions. The Chairman informed members that discussions with ACPO President had taken place and he had outlined the benefit to the organisation of that subscription and the Acting Commissioner had also added further benefits that the MPS gets from this subscription. He added in light of the changes in structure and functions over the next year, he felt that this should be treated as a transitional period and a reduced subscription bit recommended. He suggested that this should be in the region of £120,000 which represented a very significant saving.

85.5 The Chairman asked members to approve the recommendations and following a vote of 14 for and 5 against the recommendations were agreed.

Resolved – That

1. targets for Key Performance Indicators (KPI) as requested by members at SOP/F&R on 17 February 2011 (Appendix 3 of the report) be approved;
2. the revised funding limit as reflected in the Mayor’s draft budget for 2011/12 be noted;
3. for publication by 31 March 2011, the approved Capital Programme Prudential Indicators and Annual Statement of Minimum Revenue Provision (Appendix 2 of the report) be approved; and
4. the Policing London Business Plan 2011-14, to be issued by 31 March 2011 (Appendix 4 of the report) be approved.

86. Grant settlement

(Agenda item 7)

86.1 Members considered a report that set out the detail of the Government’s announced grant settlement for 2011/12 and indicative allocations for 2012/13 to 2014/15 and the implications for the funding of the Authority.

Resolved – That the details of the Governments announced grant settlement announcement for 2011/12 and the detail of the settlement for the MPA be noted.

87. Treasury management strategy and policy statement and investment strategy 2011/12

(Agenda item 8)

87.1 Members received a report that provided details of the Treasury Management Strategy and Policy Statements and investment Strategy 2011/12.

Resolved – That

1. the 2011/12 Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy set out in this report be approved; and
2. the 2011/12 Treasury Management Policy Statement at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

88. MET Forward Two focused on fighting crime

(Agenda item 9)

88.1 Members considered a report that outlined Met Forward two, a refreshed of Met Forward the MPA three year strategic mission for policing priorities in London. Members were informed that Met Forward Two was a refreshed document that noted the developments that had taken place and the achievements made in the last two years and that articulated the future priorities of the MPA.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

89. Reports from committees

(Agenda item 10)

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

• Joint Strategic and Operational Policing and Finance and Resources Committees – 17 February 2011
• Finance and Resources Committee – 17 February 2011
• Communities, Equality and People Committee – 3 March 2011
• Corporate Governance Committee– 10 March 2011

89.2 As the meeting of the Corporate Governance Committee held on 10 March 2011 was inquorate members were asked to approve minute 46 ‘Directorate of Audit Risk and Assurance 2011/12 Annual Plan’

Resolved – That the report be received and minute 46 ‘Directorate of Audit Risk and Assurance 2011/12 Annual Plan’ of the Corporate Governance Committee held on 10 March 2011 be approved.

90. Any other urgent business

(Agenda item 12)

90.1 There were no items of urgent business.

The meeting closed at 13.10 p.m.

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