Equality and diversity implications in reports considered by MPA Committees

Report: 15
Date: 05 February 2004
By: Clerk

Summary

This report considers the equalities and diversities in MPA committees and also summarises some of the key issues identified in reports considered at recent meetings of the Authority’s Committees.

A. Recommendations

That the Board notes the information.

B. Supporting information

1. One of the roles of the Board is to inform itself of issues relating to equal opportunities and diversity addressed by other MPA Committees.

2. The Board has so far not received an evaluation of how effectively the equality and diversity implications are being addressed in committee reports. The process of compiling this digest for EODB confirms that report authors are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their consideration of equality and diversity implications and it is now more uncommon than not for reports to be returned for a rewrite of the relevant section. The evidence is still largely anecdotal and a proper analysis of the quality of the assessments made will be conducted as part of the overall EODB work programme.

3. The Board is advised that relevant reports on the following subjects have been considered at recent meetings.

Planning Performance and Review Committee 11 December

• Crime Management Best Value Review: expressing concerns that the decision not to implement the central telephone investigation bureau might limit the scope for minority ethnic communities and vulnerable groups to report crimes, perpetuating the identified underreporting by these groups.
• Report on the MPS findings of the multi agency domestic violence murder reviews in London: identifying a need to improve the support to communities where there are language barriers.
• Group rape: further work to be conducted by the Sapphire Intelligence Team, involving the Sapphire IAG, to analyse any apparent disproportionality in ethnicity between victims of group rape and suspects.
• Update on NCRS in the MPS: victim orientated approach to crime recording is a positive step for vulnerable and minority groups.
• Progress report on CDRP Scrutiny: work is in hand to increase black and minority ethnic representation on CDRPs

Co-ordination and Policing Committee 15 December

Nothing to report

Finance Committee 18 December

• Procurement Strategy: subject of a separate report to this meeting.
• Metduties Phase 2: reporting that the user requirements have been developed with proper regard to the special needs of individuals and groups.

Human Resources Committee 8 January

• Recruitment and retention – attached as appendix 1 to this report.
• Retention strategy– attached as appendix 2 to this report.
• Development of a healthy and safe workforce: proposing revised restricted and recuperative duties which will provide for greater inclusion of disabled officers.
• Employment Tribunals: the six monthly management information update, including a breakdown of diversity information, showing little variance in the representation of the various groups year on year. The number of ETs is decreasing.

Professional Standards and Complaints Committee 12 January

• Complaints management information – diversity data analysis contained within appendix 3* to this report. Relevant appendices to that report are also attached.
• Independent Police Complaints Commission: the new body has as a specific remit a duty to increase confidence of all groups and communities in the police.

Co-ordination and Policing Committee 23 January

• “Policing: Building Safer Communities together”: the MPS’s draft response to the police reform consultative paper, emphasising the need for representation on accountability bodies adequately to reflect the communities they serve.

The appendices which have previously been considered by other MPA Committees are enclosed for members only. They are on the website and are available from the MPA Secretariat (020 7202 0182).

C. Equality and diversity implications

Implicit.

D. Financial implications

None arising from this report.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: John Crompton, MPA.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1

Recruitment and retention report (12) to Human Resources Committee, 8 January 2004

Appendix 2

Retention strategy report (13) to Human Resources Committee, 8 January 2004

Appendix 3

Complaints management information report (05) to Professional Standards & Complaints Committee, 12 January 2004

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