Update on MPA/MPS Health And Safety Assurance Process

Report: 10
Date: 7 July 2011
By: Director of Resources on behalf of The Commissioner

Summary

The final phase of the Health and Safety annual assurance process across the MPS was implemented and letters of assurance have been received by the Commissioner from all Business Groups.

A. Recommendation

That Members note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

1. In accordance with the MPA/MPS Corporate Health and Safety Policy Management Board Members are required to provide a letter of assurance to the Commissioner who will subsequently provide appropriate assurance to the MPA.

2. The final phase of the MPA/MPS Health and Safety Assurance Process was accepted by the MPA Corporate Governance Committee in July 2010 and the Strategic Health and Safety Committee in September 2010. During the final phase of the assurance process Central Operations (CO), Directorate of Resources (DoR), Specialist Operations (SO), Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD), Department of Information (DoI), Territorial Policing (TP), Human Resources (HR), Directorate of Public Affairs (DPA), Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) and Directorate of Legal Services (DLS) were required to submit letters of assurance for Financial Year (FY) 2010/11. These letters were received by the Commissioner in April 2011. Appropriate assurance will be given by the Commissioner to the MPA in June 2011. These letters of Assurance for FY 2010/11 are attached at Appendices 1-10. These letters capture relevant business group areas of safety concern and ongoing proactive work.

Organisational Learning

3. The process continues to be an invaluable tool for identifying, monitoring and closing out safety related risks at operational command group, department and business group level. The process has also continued to help further develop a maturing H&S culture throughout the organisation.

4. The MPS Strategic Health and Safety Committee will review and analyse this first year of full implementation for organisational learning and process improvement at its next meeting in June 2011.

C. Other organisational and community implications

Equalities impact

1. There are no immediate implications on equality and diversity arising from this report.

Met Forward

2. Although this report has no direct implications for the delivery of Met Forward, ensuring the health and safety of all our staff will impact on our ability to deliver an effective policing service to Londoners. The report outlines the MPS’s health and safety performance and outlines steps to continue to reduce accidents. The process of review will drive service improvement saving resources.

Financial implications

3. Costs associated with any additional work arising out of the assurance process will be subject to a business case and submitted via the appropriate approval channel for consideration as part of the budget planning process.

Legal implications

4. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in the UK. There are also various statutory instruments made under the Act relating to the working environment.

5. The information in this report assists the MPA in the performance of its duties under Health and Safety legislation and of its strategic oversight role as set out in the joint MPA/MPS Corporate Health and Safety Policy.

Environmental implications

6. There are no immediate environmental implications from this report.

Risk implications

7. At the time of reporting there are no immediate significant health and safety implications arising from this update report. The information in this report assists the MPA in the performance of its duties under Health and Safety legislation and of its strategic oversight role as set out in the joint MPA/MPS Corporate Health and Safety Policy.

D. Background papers

• Appendix 1 – Director of DoR, Letter of Assurance
• Appendix 2 – Assistant Commissioner CO, Letter of Assurance
• Appendix 3 – Assistant Commissioner SO, Letter of Assurance
• Appendix 4 – Assistant Commissioner SCD, Letter of Assurance
• Appendix 5 – Director of DoI, Letter of Assurance
• Appendix 6 - Assistant Commissioner TP, Letter of Assurance
• Appendix 7 - Director of HR, Letter of Assurance
• Appendix 8 - Directorate of Public Affairs
• Appendix 9 - Directorate of Professional Standards
• Appendix 10 - Directorate of Legal Services

E. Contact details

Report author: Nick Kettle, Strategic Manager Safety and Health Risk Management

For information contact:

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

Abbreviations and acronyms:

• CO - Central Operations Business Group
• DoR - Directorate of Resources Business Group
• SO – Specialist Operations
• SCD – Specialist Crime Directorate
• DoI – Department of Information
• TP - Territorial Policing
• HR - Human Resources
• DPA - Directorate of Public Affairs
• DPS - Directorate of Professional Standards
• DLS - Directorate of Legal Services

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