Reports from Sub Committees

Report: 13
Date: 12 November 2009
By: Chief Executive

1. At each meeting of the Committee members will receive a report from its Sub Committees that have meet in recent weeks.

1.1 The report provides members with details of the key items considered at each of the Sub-Committees. (Copies of reports considered by the Sub Committee’s are available on request from the Committee Section)

2. Equality & Diversity Sub Committee 22 October 2009

2.1 The following members were in attendance Kirsten Hearn (Chair) and Clive Lawton. (The meeting was inquorate)

3. Policing and Mental Health

3.1 The Sub Committee received a report that outlined the MPS response to individuals with mental health needs in London. It addressed 18 specific questions raised and summarised a number of key changes and developments since performance was last reported 18 months ago.

4. MPS Equalities Scheme

4.1 The Sub Committee noted the report that provided an overview of the ongoing development of the MPS Equalities Scheme, including annual reporting, governance, engagement and inclusion within the broader MPS equalities agenda.

5. MPA Generic Equality Scheme

5.1 In the autumn of 2008 the MPA completed its first Generic Equality Scheme (GNES). The GNES combined the MPAs existing single equality schemes on disability, gender and race with action plans for the additional diversity strands of age, religion &/or belief and sexual orientation.

5.2 In producing a generic scheme the MPA has actively incorporated diversity strands that it does not, as yet, have a legislative duty to include. In doing so the MPA places equal emphasis on establishing parity in terms of age, religion &/or belief and sexual orientation, creating a more holistic approach to equality and diversity.

5.3 The report provided a brief update on how the MPA is progressing against the actions identified in the scheme and how the GNES will be revised to reflect the changing nature of the MPA as determined by Metforward.

6. MPS Use of Stop & Search Powers

6.1 The Sub Committee received a report that provided a quarterly update of the MPS use of Stop and Search powers.

7. Use of Partnership Funding 2008/09

7.1 The Sub Committee noted the report that provided an overview of the distribution of the MPA Partnership Fund for the 2008/09 financial year. The breakdown of allocations contained within the report provided an account of the use of the Fund in the areas most of interest to members.

8. Future Management and Disbursement of the MPA Partnership Fund

8.1 This report advised members of the outcome of the consultation on the future management and disbursement of the Partnership Fund.

8.2 The Sub Committee agreed a new management process that will be introduced in the 2010/11 financial year, and the process for identifying priority area for use of the partnership fund.

9. Assessment of MPA Role on Crime Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs)

9.1 This report provided a snapshot of the MPA’s current role on CDRPs when compared with the APA’s guidance for police authorities, ‘Contributing to Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships’ The role of police authorities (June 2009).

9.2 The Sub Committee asked for a toolkit to be developed for the MPA’s link members and for a further report that set out the impact of the MPA’s restructuring and the implications of any recommendations arising from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) inspection.

10. Independent Custody Visiting Scheme

10.1 This report details developments in relation to the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme (ICV) since the last report in April 2009. Members were asked to note that the MPA restructure and reduction of resources to the ICV team would have an impact on how the scheme functions from 2010.

10.2 The Sub Committee opposed the recommendation that the ICV Scheme reports should report to the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee (SOP) from January 2010, in line with the repositioning of the ICV team within the Policing Policy, Scrutiny and Oversight Unit.

11. Domestic and Sexual Violence Board 6 October 2009

11.1 The MPA Domestic and Sexual Violence Board met on the 6th October. During the closed session Members heard a presentation from DCS Caroline Bates on the launch of the serious sexual offences investigation command, SCD2. Members thanked Cindy Butts for her leadership as DSVB Chair, and Cindy received a letter of thanks from Kit Malthouse. Members welcomed Valerie and Kirsten as co-Chairs of the DSVB and this decision awaits formal ratification at Full Authority. In the open sessions, Merton and Wandsworth BOCUs presented their responses to domestic and sexual violence. Wandsworth BOCU had exceeded its target for domestic violence sanction detections, and had shown interesting work around community confidence after the high profile Kirk Reid case. Among the topics they were asked to reflect and feedback on were partnership working in relation to homicide reviews and the volume of no-crimed and CRI's serious sexual offences. Merton BOCU had improved both its domestic violence and serious sexual offences sanction detection rates and had recently initiated a number of creative projects, some of which they were asked to feedback to the DSVB on. These included a Merton against Trafficking project and an email contact for the CSU. The next DSVB meeting will be held on Friday 4th December and the boroughs presenting will be Lambeth and Southwark.

12. Human Resources and Remuneration Sub Committee 19 October 2009

12.1 The following members were in attendance Faith Boardman (Chair) and Reshard Auladin. (The meeting was inquorate)

13. Presentation on training

13.1 The Sub Committee received a presentation of the key themes, issues and objectives in the 2009-10 Annual Learning and Development Plan and the emerging themes and demands for 2010-11

14. Dip Sampling – Fairness at Work (FAW) and ETs

14.1 This report 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).

15. Support Provided To Association Of Chief Police Officer (ACPO) Ranks & Senior Police Staff – Update

15.1 The Sub Committee noted how the health, safety and welfare of the MPS Chief Officers was protected, particularly at times of operational stretch

Copies of reports and minutes from the Authority and its Committees are available from the MPA website.

Report author Chris Benson, Committee Services

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