Question to the Authority and motion to be moved by a Member

Report: 4
Date: 24 July 2003
By: Clerk

Summary

Members are requested, in accordance with the Authority’s Standing Orders, to hear a question from Mr Nicholas Russell of the Royal National Institute of the Blind. The Clerk will give the Authority’s response at the meeting. Kirsten Hearn has indicated that she intends to move a motion in relation to this issue and this motion is also set out below.

A. Recommendations

That the Authority

1. hears the question set out below and responds in accordance with Standing Orders; and
2. considers the motion to be moved by Kirsten Hearn, as set out in para 3 of this report.

B. Supporting information

Question

1. A question has been received from Mr Nicholas Russell on behalf of the RNIB, as follows:

“We are appalled by the Disability Rights Commission (Scotland) survey (2002) which showed that a quarter of disabled people have experienced harassment related to their disability and one in 20 experience this harassment on a regular basis. We are also dismayed by "Breaking the Chain of Hate - a national survey examining levels of homophobic crime and community confidence towards the police service" by the National Advisory Group (1999) which showed that two thirds of the sample of 2,656 people had experienced at least one homophobic incident.

We therefore welcome the work of the Metropolitan Police in recording and campaigning against all forms of hate crime. Will the Metropolitan Police Authority therefore join with the Association of Police Authorities in supporting an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to introduce increased sentences for crimes aggravated by prejudice towards women, gay, lesbian and bisexual people and disabled people and ask its Chair to write to the Home Secretary to this effect. As the scrutiny and policy development body for the Metropolitan Police Service will the Police Authority also encourage the force to further develop their work to combat hate crime and to support the proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill?”

2. Standing Order 2.7 sets out the process for receiving questions at Authority meetings:

“2.7.1 Members of the public may ask questions of the Authority which are relevant to its business, functions or responsibilities. The Clerk must receive the question in writing not less than ten working days before a meeting of the Authority.

2.7.2 A person may not ask more than three questions in a rolling 12 month period.

2.7.3 The Clerk of the Authority will, in discussion with the Chair of the Authority, have the discretion to refuse a question. In this event, the Clerk shall respond in writing to the questioner outlining the reason(s) for this decision. This letter will be copied to all members, before the Authority meeting, and the Clerk’s decision reported to the meeting as part of the regular report on action taken under delegated authority. Without fettering that discretion, reasons why a question may not be accepted include the following:

1. The reasons set out in 2.6.2 above
2. The question cannot be answered satisfactorily without the disclosure of exempt information (as defined in the Access to Information legislation)
3. In the Clerk's opinion, the question has already been answered by another means and contains no issues of wider public interest that require a public answer
4. The question actually contains a number of different questions, in which case the Clerk will ask for an amended question to be submitted
5. The question is similar to, or on a similar theme to, a question asked by someone else in the preceding three months

2.7.4 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 Chair. The Chair will then invite the Clerk to respond, orally or in writing, on behalf of the Authority. Following the Clerk’s response, the person asking the question may speak further for no more than three minutes. Members may also comment on or discuss the issues raised by the question and answer.

2.7.5 The person asking the question can attend the meeting to put the question. If they are not present, the answer as reported to the Authority shall be sent to them following the meeting. If the person asking the question needs some clarification in relation to the answer, this will be given by the Clerk or appropriate officer, in person or in writing, within ten working days of clarification being sought.

2.7.6 The Chair may use discretion to limit the number of questions asked by members of the public in order to avoid the business of the Authority being disrupted. In any event, no more than 30 minutes will be allowed for public questions and answers. Any questions that remain unanswered within the timescale shall receive written responses only.”

Motion

3. Kirsten Hearn has given notice that she wishes to move the following motion under Standing Order 5.7:

“That the Authority:

1. welcomes the Metropolitan Police Service's recent introduction of 'flagging' of hate crimes committed against disabled and elderly people and their current inclusive campaign to combat hate crimes across all London's Communities.
2. resolves to join with the Association of Police Authorities in supporting an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to introduce increased sentences for crimes aggravated by prejudice towards women, lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals and disabled people and asks the Chair of the Authority to write to the Home Secretary in support of this amendment.
3. resolves also to ask the Home Secretary to add to the above mentioned amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to include increased sentences for crimes aggravated by prejudice towards elderly people and transsexuals.
4. further resolves to encourage the MPS to continue to develop its work in combating hate crimes against all London's communities and strongly encourages the Commissioner to publicly support the proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill.”

Jenny Jones has indicated that she will second this motion.

C. Equality and diversity implications

None related to the process of receiving questions from the public or considering motions.

D. Financial implications

None.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Simon Vile, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

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