Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Communities, Equalities and People Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 12 March 2009 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, Westminster, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Cindy Butts (Chairman)
• Victoria Borwick (Vice Chair)
• Reshard Auladin
• Chris Boothman
• Kirsten Hearn
• Clive Lawton

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• Alan Johnson (policy Officer)
• Siobhan Coldwell (Head of Oversight and review)
• Martin Davis (Head of Engagement & Partnerships)
• Jane Harwood Assistant (Chief Executive)
• Bennett Obong (Hate Crime Project Manager)
• Chris Benson (Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Janice McClean (D/Supt Proceeds of Crime)
• Ellie Ryan (Strategic Director Employee Relations, Health & Wellbeing)
• Darren Bird (Employee Relations HR)
• George Clarke (Head of MET Careers Team & Recruitment)
• Acting Commander Steve Bloomfield (Link Commander TPHQ)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of Human Resources)
• Julian Worker (VLD)
• Acting Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Allen.

In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair Victoria Borwick opened the meeting.

1. Apologies for absence

Cindy Butts apologised for her late arrival. Apologies for absence were received from Valerie Brasse, Kit Malthouse and Steve O’Connell.

2. Declarations of interests

There were none

3. Minutes: Communities, Equalities and People Committee 15 and 30 January 2009

(Agenda items 3 & 3A)

The minutes of the meetings held on 15 and 30 January 2009 were approved and signed as a correct record.

4. Overseas Secondments

(Agenda item 4)

Alan Johnson, Policy Officer introduced the report, the Committee was advised that Section 26 of the Police Act 1996 prescribes the procedure to be followed when police officers are deployed to provide assistance overseas. It placed a statutory obligation on a police authority to approve the provision for ‘advice and assistance’ to an international organisation outside the United Kingdom. This approval is then referred to the Home Office who grant the final authority under ‘Section 26 Police Act 1996’. This provides statutory confirmation that the relevant Officers will have all their rights and entitlements are protected.

Alan Johnson then introduced Detective Superintendent Janice McLean who gave a brief presentation about her own experience of a six month secondment and the value it provided to the Service and the individual.

Victoria Borwick, on behalf of the Committee thanked Detective Superintendent Janice McLean for her presentation.

The Chief Executive advised that a report on the practical difficulties arising from the operation of Section 26 of the Police Act 1996 will be submitted to the Committee in due course.

5. MPS Youth Scrutiny Success Measures

(Agenda item 5)

Acting Commander Steve Bloomfield (Link Commander TPHQ) introduced the report that gave an update on how the MPS was performing against the Youth Strategy Success Measures.

The Committee noted and welcomed the reductions in the number of young people becoming victims of crime or offenders.

The Committee was aware that the MPS as the leading agency had to work with other agencies such as Local Authorities, without becoming overly involved with the provision of their services or to provide them on their behalf.

It was recognised that early interventions did reduce the numbers of youth reoffending, however it was noted that behaviour that had been previously dealt with by a court was now dealt with informally. As a result the figures showed a reduction in crimes committed by and against youths and did not record a change in the behaviour of the youths.

Resolved to note the report and the context of the current review of the Youth Strategy.

6. Recruitment Targets

(Agenda item 6)

Martin Tiplady, Director of Human Resources and George Clarke Head of Careers Team & Recruitment, introduced the report that provided details of the proposed recruitment and strength targets for the next three financial years. The targets covered police officers, police community support officers and special constables. The report provided recruitment and strength targets for black and minority ethnic (BME) and female MPS personnel and highlighted some of the key features of the current recruitment strategy. Members were invited to consider the targets and profiles as set out within the report.

The Committee sought clarification of the attrition rate of BME candidates as compared with their white counterparts, and the reasons stated for their resignation. It was noted that the recruitment and retention of BME officers was a key aspect of the Race and Faith enquiry.

The Committee was advised of the difficulties involved with the benchmarking exercise. It was agreed to stop the benchmarking exercise given the other constabulary’s slow and limited response to requests for data.

A comment was made that at a recent passing out parade at Hendon, of 200 officers only 2 appeared to be of Afro Caribbean origin. It was agreed that data on the breakdown of attested recruits passing out at Hendon to be sent to Clive Lawton and the Chair of the Committee.

The Committee was advised of the imaginative and creative recruitment schemes used to attract high calibre candidates from BME communities as well as these who had to develop their English as a second language.

It was agreed that a report on the creative schemes used to encourage graduate recruitment and the high potential scheme should be presented to the Committee in the near future.

Resolved that the following recruitment targets were approved as interim targets for 2009/10:

1. 2,148 Police recruits (27.4% BME, 40.9% female) resulting in a strength of 33,353 (10% BME, 23.75% female)
2. 1,166 Police Community Support Officers (33.7% BME, 35.3% female) resulting in strength of 4,746 (31.5% BME, 36% female)
3. 2,987 Special constables (27.4% BME, 36.6% female) resulting in strength of 5,099 (31% BME, 33% female)

7. Fairness at Work

(Agenda item 7)

Ellie Ryan, Strategic Director Employee Relations, Health & Wellbeing and Darren Bird, Assistant Director Practice Support Team introduced the report that contained management information and performance analysis in respect of the Fairness at Work Policy (FAWP). It provided statistical data in respect of matters raised through Fairness at Work (FAW) and concentrated on cases submitted during the six month period from 01 August 2008 to 31 January 2009. Previously, this six-monthly report was submitted to the MPA Professional Standards Committee.

Trends and data are compared against the corresponding period 01 August 2007 to 31 January 2008. Notably, this report highlighted the positive progress being made to fully implement the MPS Mediation scheme. The MPS Mediation scheme is a method of resolving workplace disputes and, when successful, it negates the need to deal with matters through FAW.

This report also contained an update on individual, local and organisational learning captured and implemented through the FAW process.

The Committee was advised that there was an overall confidence in FAW procedure and the local resolution of grievances, as evidenced by the results of the staff survey and the results of Employment Tribunals.

It was noted that the figures were too small to indicate any over representation of any group in the FAW process.

Resolved to note the report.

8. Dip sampling of Employment Tribunal and Fairness at work (FAW) Cases

(Agenda item 8)

Alan Johnson, HR Policy Officer, introduced the report that set out the current procedure for dip sampling Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Employment Tribunal and Fairness at Work (FAW) cases by the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA). It followed proposals outlined in the Association of Police Authorities (APA) guidance “Tackling discrimination: police authority oversight and scrutiny of grievance procedures and employment tribunals.” The report also provided a brief summary of the benchmarking data obtained from a number of other police authorities for Employment Tribunals, grievances and discipline cases for the financial year 2007-08.

The Committee considered that the involvement of MPA members in the dip sampling process may help indentify organisational practices or culture that may need to be addressed. Additionally the confidence in the FAW process may be enhanced by the involvement of members.

Agreed that Reshard Auladin, Chris Boothman and Alan Johnson meet outside of the Committee to progress this issue.

Resolved that the Committee

1. note the process and progress that has been made in respect of the MPA’s dip sampling of closed Employment Tribunal and Fairness at Work (FAW) cases; and
2. note the benchmarking data as set out in the report and agreed the approach for obtaining better benchmarking data other police authorities for the 2008-09 financial year.

9. Rape Performance Update

(Agenda item 9)

Acting Commander Steve Bloomfield, Link Commander TPHQ, introduced the report that provided members with a summary of the MPS performance on rape investigations in London during the period of June 2008 to December 2008. The report detailed work undertaken to improve performance in the investigation of rape across London. Information was also provided on how rape affects diverse groups and the steps being taken to improve service.

The Committee received a verbal update on the restructuring of the Sapphire Project and its transfer from Territorial Policing to Specialist Crime. The decision had been announced the previous week and the relocation of Sapphire project was expected to be complete by the end of the calendar year.

A paper on the restructure will be presented to Strategic and Operational Policing Committee in May.

An interim report on gang related rapes was due for completion at the end of March and could be presented to the Committee in May.

Resolved to note the report.

10. Development of the Metropolitan Police Authority Hate Crime Forum

(Agenda item 10)

Bennett Obong, Project Manager, Hate Crime Forum, introduced the report that presented a proposal to redevelop the Race Hate Crime Forum (RHCF) to become an inclusive Hate Crime Forum (HCF) Monitoring hate crime across all 6 diversity strands.

It was noted that there would be a continued focus on race and religious hate crime as this reflected the higher proportion of hate crimes reported.

It was agreed that the MPA’s member representation on the forum would be reported to the Committee for sign off.

Resolved

1. to agree the transition of the Race Hate Crime Forum (RHCF) to a Hate Crime Forum (HCF).
2. to agree the strategic purpose and proposed membership for the HCF to ensure representation across statutory agencies and all diversity strands.
3. to agree that the new HCF, in working with its partners, was granted a degree of flexibility to ensure an effective response to the range of issues it was likely to encounter.

11. Stop and Search

(Agenda item 11)

The Chairs advised the Committee that a comprehensive report on Stop and Search would be presented to the next meeting. Members were invited to submit any comments or observations for the development of the report on stop and search direct to Martin Davis.

Resolved to note the report.

12. Reports from Sub-committees

(Agenda item 12)

The Chair introduced the report and invited the Chairs of the sub-committees to comment.

Clive Lawton, Chair of the Community Engagement & Citizen Focus sub-committee, advised the Committee that the system for allocation Borough Community Engagement Funding had been strengthened with increased member involvement.

Resolved to note the report and approved the amended terms of reference for the Community Engagement & Citizen Focus sub-committee.

13. Exclusion of press and public

Resolved - That under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved disclosure of exempt information as detailed in paragraphs 3 and 7 Schedule 12A to the above Act.

14. Summary of items in part 2

(a) Exempt minutes: Communities, Equalities and People Committee 30 January 2009

(Agenda item 14)

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2009 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(b) Belgravia Police Station – PCSOs

(Agenda item 15)

Noted the action taken to tackle allegations of a bullying and racist behaviour at Belgravia Police Station. 

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