Question to the authority

Report: 04
Date: 31 October 2002
By: Clerk

Summary

Members are requested, in accordance with the Authority’s Standing Orders, to hear a question from Mr Tom Mulcahy and the Authority’s response.

A. Recommendation

That the Authority hears a question from Tom Mulcahy and responds in accordance with Standing Orders.

B. Supporting information

1. Tom Mulcahy has given written notice to the Clerk of the Authority that he wishes to put a question to the Authority as follows:

“Why does the MPA and the MPS not consider providing sufficient funding for the running of the Volunteer Police Cadets across London?

“Currently there are 19 units (this equates to 19 boroughs within the Metropolitan Police District). The objectives of the Volunteer Police Cadets are:

1. to teach good citizenship
2. to enhance the relationship between the police and the public
3. to enable young people to develop personal qualities and skills through a structured programme including the Duke of Edinburgh award and the academic course ‘preparation for uniform service’.
4. to create a group of young men and women with a suitable level of fitness to assist the police in non-confrontational tasks and to be involved in local community projects
   5. to stimulate and maintain the interest of suitable young people who may be considering the police service as a career

“The police service has in excess of 600 cadets currently aged 14 to 19 years. These young people are involved in numerous local community projects, are a visible advert for good citizenship to their peer group and they are deeper in the community than any other part of the police service. They have the ability to reduce costs at non-confrontational policing events and are a pool from which to draw potential police recruits.

“In terms of funding:

• the total annual budget required for the 32 police cadet units: £1, 604,000
• the start up and set up costs per unit are around £43,000
• the cost of each unit of 60 cadets including police officer wages is approximately £55,000
• to set up units in the 13 remaining London boroughs would cost £559,000
• to continue to run the existing borough units will cost £1,045,000

“In conclusion, this project would help to reduce youth crime, engage the public with their police service, set London apart as the market leaders in youth diversity, the cadet numbers could be expected to increase to in excess of 2,000 across the Metropolitan Police District. This would greatly enhance public contact and community trust especially in inner cities as well as reduce youth vandalism. This is worthy of serious consideration.”

2. Standing Order 15 sets out the process for receiving questions at Authority meetings:

‘15. Questions from the Public

1. Any member of the public may ask questions of the Police Authority which are relevant to its business. However, to allow an opportunity to obtain any information sought in order that a meaningful response may be given, written notice should be given to the Clerk to the Police Authority not less than 14 days before a meeting of the Authority.
2. As soon as such questions are received, the appropriate officer(s) involved in responding should be given a copy and requested to prepare an answer. Every reasonable effort should be made to ensure that questions are answered fully but concisely.
3. Any question(s) shall be included on the agenda for the meeting, in the order of receipt, as the next item of business after the approval of the minutes of the last meeting, and must be addressed to the Chairman. The Chairman will then invite the appropriate officer or Member of the Authority to respond. All questions shall be put and answered without discussion. Arising from such questions if Members want a report, or an issue to be debated, then they must use existing procedures to ensure that at the following meeting the item is raised.
4. With regard to those questions that involve the disclosure of exempt information, if part of the answer can be given in public, then that should be done. However, if that is not the case or the answer is clearly inadequate, then the questioner must be told that there will be no answer available and why, prior to the meeting, and the question will not be put on the agenda.
5. The person asking the question shall be given the opportunity of attending the meeting to put the question, but if not present the answer as reported to the Authority shall be sent to such persons following the meeting. If the questioner is in attendance the appropriate officer and/or Member shall meet, him or her the questioner to discuss any further concerns he or she may have and to clarify any answer given, if necessary.
6. The Chairman may use discretion to limit the number of questions asked by members of the public in order to avoid disruption of the business of the Police Authority. In any event the total time allowed for public question and answers shall not exceed 30 minutes. A maximum of three questions per person per year may be heard. Any questions that remain unanswered within the timescale shall receive written responses only.’

C. Equality and diversity implications

None related to the process of receiving questions from the public.

D. Financial implications

None related to the process of receiving questions from the public.

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

Report author: Simon Vile, CLAMS, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

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