Minutes - draft

These minutes are draft and are to be agreed.

Minutes of the meeting of the Equalities & Diversity Sub-committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 21 October 2010 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Kirsten Hearn (Chair)
• Cindy Butts
• Amanda Sater
• Clive Lawton

MPA officers

• Michael Wadham (Policy Development Officer)
• Shirani Gunawardena (Policy Development Officer)
• Fay Scott (Head of Equalities and Engagement)
• Michael Taylor (Committee Officer)

MPS Officers

• Steve Rodhouse (Territorial Policing)
• Denise Milani (Diversity and Citizen Focus)
• Mike Partridge (Mental Health)
• David Skelton (Diversity and Citizen Focus)
• Simon Moring (Mental Health Network)
• Andy Garrett (Disabled Staff Association)
• David Maguire (HR)
• Vasanthini Gnanadoss (Strategic Relationships)

Others in attendance

• Susan Crisp (GLA)
• Councillor Melvin Collins (Hounslow)
• Helen Buckley (Lewisham CPEG)
• Wilson Hinson (Kensington and Chelsea CPEG)
• Sylvia Maharaj (Bow CCF)
• Anita Jakhu (Brent CPEG)
• Lynn Strother (Age Concern London)
• Vivienne Aiyela (MPS Race IAG)
• Rashmi Shah (Hindu Forum of Britain)
• Sara Levene (Jewish Police Association)
• Christina Sarb (Scope)
• Jean Davis

6. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

6.1 The Chair opened the meeting, outlining housekeeping and fire safety procedure. Amanda Sater, Fay Scott and Michael Taylor were introduced to the Sub-committee. At this meeting standing orders are suspended to allow members of the public to speak on the subjects covered.

6.2 Apologies were received from Mary John-Baptiste (GLA), Sonoo Malkani (Harrow CPEG), Carole Atkinson (Richmond CPEG), Desmond Masterson Royal Association for Deaf People, Linda Squelch (Signs-link) and the Christian Police Association.

7. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

7.1 No declarations were made.

8. Minutes: Equality and Diversity Sub-committee - 22 July 2010

(Agenda item 3)

8.1 Feedback was received on a number of actions from the previous meeting.

• An update on the MPS Languages Programme will be received at the Sub-committee on February 2011.
• MPS held a meeting was held with UK Border Agency regarding materials on Policing provided to new migrants.
• MPS is holding a meeting with the London Refugee Council regarding the sharing of good practice from the Somali Interagency Taskforce.
• A letter was sent by the chair to the MPS Deputy Commissioner Tim Godwin regarding MPS strategy on asylum seekers, new migrants and refugees; and MPS representation to the London Strategic Migration Partnership (LSMP). A response was received indicating that Members comments would be taken into consideration. The MPA will be raising this matter further in order to ensure the concerns are addressed.

9. Mental Health update and overview

(Agenda item 4)

9.1 Steve Rodhouse introduced the report and outlined the challenges facing the MPS service delivery to those with mental health issues. Following the recommendations of the Bradley investigation; the MPS has implemented a support plan which outlines a framework for the delivery of service to users with mental health issues. This includes recording all instances where victims’ report crime and where suspects are processed through the criminal justice system. Each of the 32 London Boroughs also has a Mental Health Liaison Officer to link with Police and Mental Health Trusts.

9.2 As there is no universal definition for mental health issues, front line police officers use their own judgement when establishing whether a person has mental health issues. Training has been developed to help officers to recognise when people display symptoms of mental health issues. The MPS also supports staff with mental health or stress issues, which is promoted on the staff intranet.

9.3 Examples of good practice working across London include: Barnet, Enfield and Haringey operating a combined team to investigate crimes in psychiatric units; Ealing having a dedicated officer to investigate crimes at the mental health trust; and Hackney recruiting a mental health intervention officer, who is able to provide support to victims with mental health issues. Although good practice is shared between boroughs, each borough faces unique issues and may not be able to incorporate all learning. Feedback received from service users is also incorporated into police training.

9.4 Clive Lawton enquired about the level of engagement between the MPS and Mental Health Trusts, and whether the Trusts are proactive enough to address problems themselves or whether they leave responsibility to the police. The MPS responded that the level of engagement varies between boroughs and that some areas where Trusts have closed down require additional levels of police engagement. The MPS acknowledges the difficulties that this places on services, especially in light of the NHS Equality and Excellence paper leading to the future restructure of Primary Care Trusts into Consortiums. Kirsten Hearn affirmed the importance of services to those with mental health issues, along with the need to monitor the development of this issue.

9.5 Councillor Melvin Collins enquired whether learning difficulties are incorporated under mental health issues, and also whether appropriate records accompany individuals being transferred in custody. The MPS confirmed that under MPS guidance learning difficulties do fall under mental health and that Prisoner Escort Records are completed when prisoners are transferred, which notes details of any mental health issues.

9.6 Helen Buckley enquired about the use of Tasers in custodial suites and whether special consideration has been given to their use on those with mental health issues. When the use of Tasers was introduced at the MPS it was recognised that special interest groups would require special consideration. The MPS Firearms unit CO19 is trained to respond to suspects in the safest way possible; in the case of those with mental health issues a Taser can be less damaging than physical restraint. The use of Tasers is monitored by the MPS and a report is likely to be commissioned for a future MPA committee meeting. There are no plans to expand the use of Tasers, and that it is recognised that their use must be monitored.

10. MPS Service delivery for deaf and Disabled People

(Agenda item 5)

10.1 Denise Milani introduced the report and outlined the MPS Diversity and Equalities Strategy 2009-13; which focuses on the themes of fair and responsive services, community engagement, workforce culture and governance. The MPS is engaging with deaf and disabled people across London to address community concerns, and provide services to meet their requirements. Good practice is also being identified and mainstreamed across London in order to improve service delivery. The MPS is currently auditing data on service provision, which will be presented to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. The MPS also expressed their gratitude to the Disability Independent Advisory Group (DAIG) for their advice during the operational development of this strategy.

10.2 Councillor Melvin Collins advised that Hounslow has established an Equality and Diversity Hate Crime Panel and is glad to see that full statistics on disability crime are available on a local level. He also enquired on the level of service delivery to disabled men who are victims of domestic violence. Although domestic violence is disproportionately directed at women, it is recognised that other victims cannot be overlooked. The MPS is working with the MPA Domestic and Sexual Violence Board on this issue.

10.3 As part of the MPS Service Improvement Programme community consultation is being held on the accessibility of services to identify how to improve access to disabled users. This consultation will look at issues such as ensuring that front counters are on the ground floor, and installing access ramps at station entrances. The Diversity and Citizens Focus Directorate is also liaising with Estates to identify appropriate stations which can have accessibility alterations developed to accommodate requirements.

10.4 In order to engage with disabled people at a local level, the MPS has appointed a consultant to develop a representative Disability IAG at both a local and corporate level. Although third party reporting of disability hate crime is being developed, the MPA Hate Crime Forum is working on ways to progress accessibility for disabled people to directly report incidents.

10.5 Kirsten Hearn requested information on the number of custodial suites which are outfitted for disabled detainees. The MPS will collate and provide this information.
Action: MPS to provide information on the number of outfitted suites.

10.6 There are currently over 3500 MPS staff registered as disabled, who receive support on development and deployment. The MPS Disabled Staff Association also liaises with managers to ensure that reasonable adjustments are made to accommodate disabled staff. Options are also being considered for disabled staff to be used as liaisons to disabled communities.

11. Equality and Diversity Sub-committee annual report

(Agenda item 6)

11.1 The Sub-committee’s Annual Report was presented, detailing the structure and objectives of the Sub-committee, along with an overview of reports received and actions taken in 2009-10. The list of future meeting dates and topics to be received at upcoming meetings during 2010-11 was also examined.

The meeting was closed at 11.55 am.

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