Minutes

Minutes of the Professional Standards & Complaints Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 18 July 2002 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members:

• Reshard Auladin (Chair);
• Elizabeth Howlett (Deputy Chair)
• Richard Sumray
• Graham Tope
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA Officers:

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk to the Authority)
• Alan Johnson (Head of Human Resources and Professional Standards)
• Nick Baker (Committee Services)

MPS Officers:

• Ian Blair (Deputy Commissioner)
• Philip Hagon (Commander, Directorate of Professional Standards)
• Andrew Hayman (Director of Professional Standards)

In addition, approximately 7 members of the press/public and other MPA/MPS staff were present.

Part 1

1. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Cecile Wright.

2. Declarations of interests from members of the committee

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interests were given by members.

3. Minutes of meeting of PSPM and ACPO Complaints Sub-committee

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the PSPM Committee meeting held on 13 June 2002 and that the minutes of the ACPO Complaints Sub-Committee be noted.

4. Chair’s and Members’ Update

(Agenda item 4)

The Committee briefly discussed the involvement of members when considering ACPO conduct issues and the role of this Committee.

It was agreed that the Clerk should decided when such issues should be shared with members if particularly sensitive issues needed to be considered by the Committee. Arising from the discussion it was noted that issues arising from employment tribunals should be discussed with the Chair of Human Resources.

5. Terms of reference and work programme

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee received a report that outlined the Committee’s terms of reference and gave details of proposed regular items that will be received by the Committee.

The report also asked members to suggest areas of future work for the Committee, consider the establishment of an ACPO Conduct Sub-Committee and consider the suggestion that the Suspensions Working Group report to this Committee.

Resolved – That

1. the Committee’s terms of reference be noted;
2. the proposals for regular reports to be received by the Committee, as outlined in the report, be agreed;
3. the future areas of work outlined in the report be agreed;
4. an ACPO Conduct Sub-Committee be established and its terms of reference be those outlined in Appendix 1 to the report with the membership being at least three members of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee, sought by the Clerk, if necessary on a rotational basis; and
5. the Suspensions Working Group report to this Committee.

6. Complaints management information

(Agenda item 6)

The Committee considered a report that looked at complaints management information for the period November 2001 – March 2002 and April 2002. It focused on key changes or exceptions within the data such as the nature of the figures and emerging trends, which are slow to change.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the Committee receive a report and presentation of the timeliness of complaints.

7. Progress on HMIC recommendations from 2001 MPS inspection

(Agenda item 7)

The Committee considered a report that informed members that the Directorate of Professional Standards had implemented all the recommendations made by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in 2001.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

8. The Accenture Review (Mayor’s scrutiny) of the Directorate of Professional Standards and Directorate of Legal Services

(Agenda item 8)

A report was received that highlighted the stance taken by Accenture in their review of how the Directorates of Professional Standards and Legal Services deal with the issue of compensation.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

9. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 9)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during item 9 as it was likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Resolved – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of agenda item 10

Summary of exempt item

10. Police regulations

(Agenda item 10)

The Committee considered a series of issues relating to officers of ACPO rank.

The Committee ended at 4.45 p.m.

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