MPS service delivery to Gypsy and Traveller communities

Report: 5
Date: 14 April 2011
By: Director Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report provides members with an overview of MPS service delivery specifically to Gypsy and Traveller Communities.

A. Recommendation

That members consider and note the content of this report

B. Supporting information

Introduction and definitions

1. Throughout its policies and related documents the MPS uses the terms ‘Gypsy’ and ‘Irish Travellers’ to denote English Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers, both of whom would constitute a distinct ethnic group which is covered by the protected characteristic of Race in the Equality Act 2010.

2. The term traveller is used to denote so called ‘new’ or ‘new age’ travellers who do not have the same status. Roma, commonly accepted as having a recent European or Eastern European origin while sharing the same ethic origin as English Gypsies have developed a culture in which travelling is less of a defining issue.

3. ‘Travelling people’ is used as a generic term indicating both Gypsies and Travellers.

Overarching aim

4. The MPS is committed to improving levels of trust and confidence felt by Gypsies, Irish Travellers and the settled community supporting principle through its engagement with and service delivery to Gypsies and Irish Travellers. The MPS approach is described in the MPS Policy Document on Engagement with Travelling People which describes the MPS commitment to:

• Engage with Gypsies and Travellers and their representative groups in order to ensure their voices are heard and their opinions considered when decisions about the way London is policed are made.
• Effectively respond to the issues raised by Gypsies and Travellers or their representative groups.
• Effectively identify, record and investigate hate crime directed against Gypsies and Travellers
• Respond fairly and openly to incidents of unauthorised encampment, while acknowledging that there is no legal right to trespass and a national shortage of both authorised pitches and stopping places.

5. In doing so the MPS acknowledges and seek to positively respond to the fact that the Race Relations Act (RRA) 1976, now superseded by the Equality Act 2010, makes it unlawful to treat someone less favourably on the grounds of race which includes colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins. Following a nomadic lifestyle is lawful, indeed it is a culture. Additionally section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 imposes from April 2011 a general duty on many public bodies, including the MPS, to have due regard to three specified matters when exercising their functions, namely: eliminating conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act; advancing equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who don’t; and fostering good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who don’t.

6. This position is reflected in the MPS policy document on unauthorised encampment and associated issues.

Population

7. It is important to understand and appreciate the unique difficulties experienced when trying to effectively evaluate where Gypsy and Irish Traveller populations in London are concentrated.

8. The Gypsy and Irish Traveller population is extremely difficult to estimate with any degree of accuracy. Some of the reasons for this are:

• The lack of any appropriate census category has in the past meant that census data cannot be used for population estimates, this situation has been changed somewhat by the introduction of categories for Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller in the 2011 census however the fact remains that there is no historical data to provide a comparison. The census also relies on self identification and a degree of literacy both of which can be problematic for Travelling People.
• The six monthly caravan site count, carried out by Local Authorities for the Department of Communities and Local Government, provides figures that are notoriously inaccurate. They count only caravans rather than people and attempts only to count those who are resident in caravans
• Historical discrimination by settled society and its institutions have made Gypsies and Irish Travellers reluctant to self identify in any interaction with settled society preferring simply to identify themselves as Irish or British.
• Fear of discrimination in everyday life leads to few settled Gypsy or Irish Traveller families being willing to openly identify their ethnic background

9. However, the report of Fordham Research on the Accommodation Needs of London Boroughs (with the exception of Bexley) published in 2008, and written with the participation of the communities concerned, has provided a relatively recent and arguably accurate picture of the Gypsy and Traveller population in London. It must however be noted that the content of this report was disputed by some London Boroughs albeit that this may have more to do with a disagreement with recommendations as to future site need rather that a disagreement over population figures.

10. The MPS has used the Fordham figures as the most realistic assessment of Gypsy and Irish Traveller populations in London currently available. According to these figures the total Gypsy and Irish Traveller population for London is conservatively estimated at around 17,100 with an average family size of 4.2 people, the majority of whom are housed.

11. The five boroughs with the largest populations (including those living on authorised and unauthorised sites as well as those who are housed) are:

• Bromley with a population of 1073 families of whom 1000 are housed
• Haringey with a population of 417 families of whom 405 are housed
• Ealing with a population of 261 families of whom 225 are housed
• Newham with a population of 198 families of whom 179 are housed
• Hillingdon with a population of 170 families of whom 150 are housed
• Greenwich with a population of 165 families of whom 97 are housed.

12. It should be noted that while all boroughs with the exception of Westminster have local authority owned or indirectly managed sites by far the majority of Gypsies and Irish Travellers are housed although many would express a preference for caravan residence if that was available.

Community Engagement and Partnership Working

Centrally:

13. Engagement with strategic partners and with Gypsy Traveller representative groups is carried out by the MPS Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer (GTLO), a process which ensures consistency of approach in policy interpretation and provides a familiar and well known central point of contact for enquirers.

14. The GTLO and the DCFD also have contact with strategic partners including National Gypsy and Irish Traveller organisations, contact tends to be needs driven although where some groups hold regular meetings every effort is made to attend.

• Irish Traveller Movement in Britain (ITMB)
• Friend Families and Travellers
• The Gypsy Council
• The Romany Gypsy Council
• National Romany Rights Association
• National Association of Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officers (NAGTO)
• ACPO Gypsy and Traveller Workgroup
• Church Network for Gypsies and Travellers (CNGT)
• Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG)
• Life and Light movement (An Evangelical/Pentecostal Gypsy Church)
• Irish Travellers movement 2006
• Friends Families and Travellers
• Diocese of Salisbury Chaplain to Romany’s and Travellers
• National Association of Health workers with Travellers

15. London based strategic partners include:

• London Gypsy Traveller Unit
• Bromley Gypsy Traveller Project (BGTP)
• Southwark Travellers Action Group (STAG)
• Pan London Gypsy Forum
• Roman Catholic Travellers Chaplaincy
• Anglican Diocese of Rochester
• Traveller Education Service (Principally in the boroughs of Barnet, Ealing, Sutton, Southwark, Bromley although the MPS GTLO has addressed their London conference on two occasions)

16. The GTLO and DCFD regularly provide support to MPS Business Groups such as Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD), Specialist Operations (SO) including the Counter Terrorism Command (CTC), Territorial Policing (TP) and Central Operations (CO) following major incidents such as murders or sudden deaths within the Travelling Community. Advice is provided on community backgrounds, customs and traditions, key individuals and families, local networks of support organisations. Advice is also provided on methods to feedback into the Traveller Community any re-assurance messages to gain trust and confidence of the Police. The MPS GTLO represents the MPS and sits on the Church Network for Gypsies and Travellers, the Bromley Gypsy Traveller Project, The London Gypsy Traveller Forum and the ACPO Gypsy and Traveller workgroup. The MPS GTLO has also provided cultural awareness training and showcased the work of the MPS through the CNGT road shows and other events, albeit, that thus far only three road shows have been held. No figures have been kept for those attending but these events tend to be attended by members of gateway organisations as well as Gypsies and Travellers themselves Cultural awareness training is provided on request at a local level and is generally limited to SNT members and other interested staff. No figures have been kept of the numbers attending. He was a contributing member of the Ministerial Task group on site planning and Enforcement and represented the views of the MPS at the meetings of the London Borough’s Gypsy and Traveller site Needs Assessment.

17. Based within Specialist Operations (SO) the GTLO monitors National Community Tensions within the Traveller Community, and provides updates to Borough based GTLOs, through the GTLO Special Interest Group (SIG). He is also available for 24/7 consultation and to deliver training to boroughs as requested although it acknowledged that the best people to deliver training are the community themselves.

18. In 2004 the Gypsy and Traveller Independent Advisory Group (GTAG) was formed, the first of its type in the UK. The following are included in its terms of reference;

• To provide a source of advice and independent scrutiny to the MPS on all aspects of policing that impact on Gypsy and Traveller Communities within the Metropolitan Police District (MPD)
• To help develop an atmosphere of trust, confidence and transparency between Gypsies and Travellers and police by establishing an open two way flow of views and information.

19. In the first two years the Group met four times a year, but from the outset the meetings were not the main priority and attendance was sporadic and often minimal. The Group’s main strength was that it provided a network of community representatives with which the MPS could consult. Although the Group has had no formal meetings for a long time the network of members is still used to provide advice to individual B(OCU)s, Specialist OCUs and corporately. The Chair is still regularly consulted along with the Chairs of the other Advisory Groups. In addition the Chair of the ITMB, who has specialist knowledge of the Irish Traveller Community, also sits as a member of the Central Race IAG. It should however be noted that there is little agreement within the wider Gypsy and Traveller community as to who in reality represents their views. Gypsy culture holds that while larger groups may have an interest in what is going on, individuals are ultimately responsible for their own actions. There is therefore no effective single representative group but many local interest group although even these tend to represent a narrow range of interests. Furthermore recent years have seen the Gypsy and Traveller communities ‘reclaiming their voices’ with the result that in the early day of the GTAG non-Gypsy or Traveller people were excluded from full membership of the group. While this is understandable it does not pose the best way of obtaining advice particularly when issues with literacy amongst Gypsy and Traveller people are taken into account. It is anticipated, that subject to agreement from the Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate (DCFD) who retain the policy lead for IAG issues, the group will be reinvigorated through widening the membership base while ensuring it has a London focus. This could be achieved through using local GTLO’s and representative groups to suggest likely candidates.

Local Borough Level

20 The predominant means of community engagement with Gypsy and Traveller communities and individuals at the local level is through the appropriate Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) and/or the Police Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer (GTLO). Not all SNT have the confidence to regularly patrol on sites although on boroughs where this is encouraged, for example Bromley, solid results in engagement terms have been achieved. Where this has been brought to notice the MPS GTLO has visited teams and talked through policing issues. In South London a group comprising the GTLO’s from Bromley, Bexley and Kent is in the course of being established which share good will practice and intelligence and in doing so help overcome any apprehension on the part of SNT to patrol on sites. Should this prove to be the case attempts will be made to replicate this across the MPD.

21. Borough based GTLO’s have specific responsibilities as part of the unauthorised encampment policy they are also responsible for ensuring consistency of approach where direct liaison is carried out by individual Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs).

Examples of Borough based work

22. Lewisham: The Lewisham Traveller Forum has been running for over six years and meets every two months. Mostly attended by professionals working with the Traveller Community but recently Travellers have been attending to discuss issues and look for support and assistance in the form of advocacy, health assistance and education. The Lewisham Travellers’ caravan site was closed by the council four years ago so this Forum is now the central point of contact with the community apart through the local Traveller Education Team and an Outreach Worker supported by the Irish Traveller Movement UK.

23. The Outreach Worker has assisted the MPS when issues have been raised by SNTs around Anti Social Behaviour and violence within the community. The Outreach Worker is also a member of the Lewisham Police Advisory Group.

24. The Traveller Forum has led on developing Training for Lewisham Council and ad hoc with SNTs.

25. Merton: A Multi Agency Gypsy Traveller Forum has been running for two years and meets twice a year. The Forum currently provides cultural awareness training on an ad hoc basis.

26. Bromley: Partnership working by membership of the management committee of the Bromley Gypsy Traveller Project (BGTP) a charitable group providing workers from the Gypsy and Traveller community providing advocacy, education and health advice, and liaison with strategic partners including the local council, health service, housing and education.

27. The local GTLO also represents Bromley Police at the Gypsy Traveller reference group chaired by the Primary Care Trust. This Group provides a forum for service providers to work jointly to contribute to the health, safety and wellbeing of Gypsies and Irish Travellers in Bromley. An example of the work of this group is the launch of an initiative to help people with literacy problems when they are in touch with services such as the Police. Credit card sized plastic cards were supplied to members of the community advising agencies that the holder needed discrete help with reading or writing.

28. Bromley GTLO and SNT officers have attended, and participated in, cultural awareness training provided by the Reference Group and the London Borough of Bromley Traveller Education team.

29. Greenwich: The GTLO has regular contact with residents on two local authority caravan sites. One resident has volunteered to help with providing community awareness training and assisted the GTLO in delivering cultural awareness training to Greenwich SNTs. However, attempts to get her a position on the local community advisory group have been frustrated by an inability to pass the MPS vetting process, a problem often encountered by Gypsy and Travelling people who are trying to engage with police on a more formal basis.

30. Brent: The Harlesden SN Inspector and Team have been working very closely with the residents of the local authority owned caravan site in Brent to help to peacefully resolve eviction issues thereby building trust and confidence between the community and the Police. Regular and normal patrols have been introduced to the site and there is a PCSO SPOC providing advice and assistance to site residents. A community engagement plan for the site has been developed and executed. A representative from the site has recently been recruited to join the SN Ward panel to represent the interests of the community.

31. Regular meetings are held with the caravan site management to help reduce unnecessary escalation of issues with residents.

32. Domestic Violence awareness and intervention practices have been highlighted on the site and the Community Safety Unit has provided assistance. Drugs and Alcohol out-reach workers have been invited to the site to help provide assistance to residents.

33. Harrow: As part of a Department of Communities and Local Government funded project to tackle Hate Crime, the Harrow Hate Crime Forum held a road-show to highlight the use of Third Party reporting. Local Gypsies and Irish Travellers were invited to participate.

Reporting of Crime

34. There is regular anecdotal evidence put forward by Gypsy and Traveller representative groups that suggests there is considerable under reporting of crime, particularly hate crimes affecting Gypsy and Traveller people, this is however difficult to substantiate particularly as both Gypsies and Travellers are often reluctant to self identify when they do report crime. In an effort to try and monitor more accurately crimes where Gypsies and Travellers are victims and to improve levels of service the MPS has introduced a ‘GT’ flag (introduced in 2003) to be placed on crime reports by the reporting officer. The MPS Policy on Unauthorised Encampment and Associated Matters makes clear that CSU supervisors are to dip sample reported crimes in order to ensure that hate crime where Gypsies and Travellers are victims are correctly identified and appropriately flagged.

35. The MPS third party reporting scheme has been used to make reporting crime easier for Gypsies and Travellers with sites being established for example within the Bromley Gypsy Traveller Project (BGTP) in South London, The Irish Travellers Movement in Britain (ITMB) in North London and the London Gypsy Traveller Unit in East London.

36. Levels of reported crime however remain low with 6 reported from April 2010 to February 2011 and 52 crimes reported from April 2009 to April 2010. There were no racially motivated hate crimes reported during the period April 2009 to February 2011. The majority of reported crimes for both periods are related to violence or harassment. These reports have been collated using the GT Flag.

37. A lack of trust and confidence probably play a part in these low levels of reported crime; however other factors also come into play. A reluctance to self define as a Gypsy or a Traveller would account for why many crimes where Gypsies or Travellers are victims are not correctly flagged, a poor understanding of the application of the flag by staff may also contribute as might the possibility that there simply isn’t a large amount of crime where Gypsies and Travellers are the victims. No research has been done on crimes where Gypsies and Travellers are suspects.

38. Anecdotally and based on practical experience it seem that the community prefers to deal with its issues internally rather than involve police or for example social services, this does not however imply that that the MPS considers in any way that Travelling People are not entitled to either the support or protection of the law.

Investigating Crime

39. Despite the frequently voiced opinions of the settled community there is no reliable evidence to show that this community is any different to the rest of society in terms of involvement in crime. However evidence [1] albeit dated, suggests the criminal justice system as a whole tends to treat people from within the community differently to those from settled society. For example Gypsy and Traveller people are more likely to be kept in custody than those from settled society a factor that tends to undermine the willingness of Gypsy and Traveller people to assist police. An often quoted opinion for an Irish Traveller child to a police officer perhaps sums up the situation ‘you are their police not mine’.

40. It has to be acknowledged that investigating crime within the Gypsy and Traveller community, whether as victims or suspects presents particular challenges to police. The community will often close ranks holding the view that its members on one hand have no desire to be involved in assisting police and on the other hand feel they have a right to know everything that is going on that may affect them. Family groups tend to be close-knit with a primary loyalty toward the family rather than assisting the police. Disputes between families are often complex and long lasting with some lasting generations; cross allegations together with an absence of witnesses are common.

41. Family ties are extensive and cross force boundaries which can also hamper the investigation of crime where Gypsies and Travellers are suspects. It can also cause problems when they are victims as ‘feuds’ that originate in one force area can cross over into other areas without the original cause being apparent. This makes sharing intelligence across force boundaries vitally important. The MPS hosts a cross border meeting for GTLO’s from those forces surrounding the MPD at which good practice, experience and intelligence are shared with borough based GTLO’s. The MPS also participates in the ACPO Gypsy and Traveller workgroup which contains a strand working on criminality within the Gypsy and Traveller Community.

42. The Gypsy and Traveller community also have particular cultural needs which can impact on the success or otherwise of crime investigations. In order to make staff aware of these and so help build trust and confidence a cultural guidance document written by the MPS GTLO in conjunction with the community has been published and is supplied to any units requiring it. It is however due to be updated to take into account further community comment.

Protection of Vulnerable Individuals and Reassurance of the Community

43. In terms of protecting those who are vulnerable witnesses this is very difficult to achieve as the community is close knit with families protecting, or accusing other community members. Disputes can last years passing through generations and given the extensive nature of community can reoccur far from the original incident.

44. This close knit family nature however makes Gypsy and Traveller families very supportive of those with special needs or disabilities. Equally the elderly tend to remain within the family network. Poor health is common and life expectancies within the community are significantly lower than in the settled community particularly with regard to those who travel. A consequence of this is that when considering removals from unauthorised encampments or when planning policing operations that impact on site residents the health and special needs of those on the site need to be carefully considered. The MPS policy document ensures that not only are welfare assessments carried out before any decision making group meets but medical and any other special needs are specifically considered in the risk assessment process.

45. Faith within the community is varied, the majority of Irish Travellers are Roman Catholics and the MPS through the MPS GTLO has a good working relationship with the Roman Catholic Travellers Chaplaincy. Gypsy people tend either towards Anglican clergy who are sympathetic to their lifestyle issues or to belong to Evangelical/Pentecostal Churches. The MPS has yet to experience a large Life and Light Convocation (an assembly of those involved in the Light and Life Movement, generally held out of doors over 3 or 4 days and usually very well attended) but established relationships at a national and local level should go some way towards preventing any of the difficulties these groups have experienced in other force areas.

46. Research by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has highlighted the difficulties faced by lesbian, gay or bisexual people in ‘coming out’ and gaining acceptance from their communities. This is may be a function of cultural attitudes and expectations to sexuality as a whole. This is a sensitive area of challenge for the MPS.

Gathering of Intelligence

47. The MPS does not gather intelligence specifically on Gypsy or Traveller people and has defended the position that the routine recording of index numbers of vehicles on Gypsy sites is an unacceptable breach of human rights legislation. Intelligence is however gathered on those suspected of criminality in exactly the same way as with settled society.

48. The MPS weekly community tension assessment requires an assessment of community tension to be made within the Gypsy and Traveller communities on a borough. This information is fed into an MPS tension assessment figure which in turn informs the national picture.

49. In more general terms intelligence can be difficult to obtain as the community is close knit with families protecting each other and very often not wanting to be seen as informants. Depends on the incident/crime and the way the community perceives it. Some information may be forthcoming, but in general experience shows that unwillingness to be seen to be involved with police, a mistrust of motives and fear of retribution from within the community should witnesses be seen to be cooperating with police limit the intelligence that is forthcoming from the community.

50. Local intelligence and improved relationships have played an important part in ensuring that large funerals and similar community events are policed in a far more sympathetic way than has been the case in the past. Large funerals are no longer seen as a problem and by working with families and clergy and understanding the dynamic of Gypsy and Traveller funerals it has been possible to avoid over policing and unnecessary use of police resources.

51. At a national level the MPS GTLO provides a SPOC for intelligence from other forces which is then disseminated to GTLO’s as required. He also has provided advice to other forces such as Gloucestershire police on factors to be considered when policing large scale horse fairs such as that held in Stow-on-The Wold. He has provided advice on community engagement strategies to other forces in support of operations such as the potential eviction at Dale Farm.

Complaint Handling

52. Community complaints made through the Gypsy Council regarding perceived racist comments made by Michael Howard during the election campaign were notified to the MPS GTLO who assisted in the subsequent investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service made the decision that there was no case to answer. There have been similar outcomes from the CPS when allegations of ‘incitement to racial hatred’ have been made against a variety of newspaper stories such as the ‘Stamp on the Camps’ campaign started by The Sun in 2005 in response to unauthorised developments.

53. Complaints made as a result of police actions in Southwark and Brent have resulted in important lessons being learned regarding the need for knowledgeable and effective consultation and Independent Advice during the planning and post event process. The need for staff to be properly briefed and given an adequate understanding of Gypsy and Traveller culture has also been highlighted

Training for Police Officers

54. While there is no formal training for police officers on Gypsy and Traveller issues, nor in the current climate of economic restraint are there plans to introduce formal training into the training round, the following are available:

• A Surrey Police sponsored training video and course is held by the MPS GTLO and is supplied to any GTLO that requests it. This course has been recommended by the ACPO Gypsy and Traveller workgroup.
• Greenwich GTLO now provides training for police and others with Irish Traveller participation
• FFT have provided training to Croydon and Bexley Boroughs
• BGTP involved in training on Bromley Borough
• Show Racism the Red Card has developed a training/education pack on Gypsy and Irish Traveller culture and awareness called ‘Out of Site’

55. Aside from the document referred to above (Customs of Travelling People) the MPS GTLO has provided training for Family Liaison officers, Special Constables and SNT Sergeants on Bexley and Croydon Boroughs and was a significant contributor to the National Police Improvement Agency guidance document for operational police officers. On an informal basis he provides advice to Gold Groups and operational teams on ways of minimising the impact of operations on the Gypsy and Traveller community.

GTLO roles

56. The current MPS policy requires that all boroughs should have a GTLO although it is acknowledged that some boroughs would be better served by sharing a GTLO. The role is seen as an operational role requiring the post holder to actively engage with the community it is not seen as that can be effectively held from behind a desk. Given the part that the GTLO plays in the enforcement process it is recommended that the post holder is a police officer at Sergeant or Constable level, it can be combined with an SN role however at the GTLO has responsibility for the whole borough there is potential for conflict in role.

57. Whilst a key part of the GTLO role is to establish relationships with the community GTLO’s frequently change posts, for this reason the MPS GTLO provides the advertised single point of contact with enquiries passed out to local GTLO’s as required. Equally local GTLO enquiries that need to other strategic bodies (for example ACPO) are routed through the MPS GTLO.

58. There are currently 23 local GTLO’s in post; their role is defined in SOP

Centrally

• Policy lead
• Writing SOP guidance
• Training on an ad hoc basis
• Cultural and operational advice
• Advice on the completion of CIA’s as required
• Advice to the public and Gypsy and Traveller representative groups
• Advice to local authorities on police policy in relation to unauthorised encampment
• Single point of contact for groups or individual seeking assistance on Gypsy and Traveller issues
• Represent MPS at ACPO Workgroup, Ministerial task group and other strategic groups.
• To be involved in local training as necessary
• To support local GTLO’s and other MPS Branches

Locally

• To act as a single point of contact for Gypsies and Travellers and their representative groups, local authorities or members of local communities on a borough.
• To provide visible and practical reassurance to Gypsies and Travellers of the MPS’s desire to engage and to respond their views on policing issues that affect them.
• To feed intelligence on Gypsy and Traveller issues and concerns into the intelligence system.
• To provide a source of knowledge on Gypsy and Traveller matters, by being a high profile, highly visible presence on authorised and unauthorised encampments on a BOCU.
• To conduct welfare assessments and play a part in the unauthorised encampment process as defined in the SOP on the unauthorised encampment decision making process.
• To assist in compiling risk assessments for the removal process.
• To assist in completing the weekly tension return in respect of Gypsy and Traveller issues, providing community tension assessments and monitoring levels of hate crime directed against Gypsies and Travellers
• To assist CSU’s in the investigation of hate crimes involving and directed against Gypsies and Travellers.

Next steps, Improving accessibility of services

59. As described in the above, much of the evidence on either Gypsy and Irish Traveller experience or perceptions of the Police, and Police Officer’s perceptions of the Traveller Community, is anecdotal. In order to fully meet the criteria laid out in the MPS Policy Document on Engagement with Travelling People it would be beneficial to carry out surveys with both parties.

60. The DCFD is preparing a questionnaire to be circulated to boroughs and business groups to look more closely at work being undertaken, and to look for ways to improve:

• Joint working with partner agencies
• Training Needs
• Good practice for engagement with the Travelling Community.
  

61. The MPS is also exploring how a similar survey could be carried out with the Traveller Community to ask about their experiences with the Police. A similar exercise was carried out in Sussex in 2007 and is to be repeated in 2011 in order to measure success or areas where further work needs to be done. The MPS is keen to learn from this experience.

62. Both surveys would assist in identifying activities that could be undertaken at either a corporate or local level to improve the policing services provided to these communities.

C. Other organisational & community implications

Equality and Diversity Impact

1. This report seeks to show the way the MPS works with all members of the Traveller Community across all protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 and explore a range of inclusive community engagement opportunities.

2. The MPS and the MPA endorsed a Community Engagement Commitment 2010-2013 and the impact of this will be monitored to determine any increased public confidence.

Consideration of Met Forward

3. The contents of this report directly support the MPA’s Met Forward plan with regard to increasing public confidence in policing, fighting crime and reducing criminality through effective communication with everyone.

Financial Implications

4. The costs associated with the activities set out in this report are covered by existing, MPS wide budgets, as contained within the 2010/13 Business Plan.

Legal Implications

5. There are no specific legal implications arising from this report which is for information only but the references to the Equality Act 2010 are accurate.

Environmental Implications

6. There are no environmental implications for the MPS/MPA

Risk (including Health and Safety) Implications

7. The report highlights many opportunities for the MPS to enhance its engagement with Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities. There are no health and safety implications associated with this report.

D. Background papers

None

E. Contact details

Report author: John Wilson, Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate and Sgt Nick Williams, Communities Together Strategic Engagement Team, MPS

For information contact:

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

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