Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 25 October 2007 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Len Duvall (Chair) (for first part of meeting)
• Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair)
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair)
• Tony Arbour
•  Jennette Arnold
• Richard Barnes
• Faith Boardman
• Dee Doocey
• Nicky Gavron
• Toby Harris
•  Kirsten Hearn,
• Peter Herbert
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Jenny Jones
• Karim Murji
• Bob Neill
• Aneeta Prem
• John Roberts
• Richard Sumray
• Graham Tope
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• David Riddle (Deputy Chief Executive)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• Simon Vile (Head of Corporate Secretariat).

MPS officers

• Sir Ian Blair (Commissioner)
• Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of Human Resources)
• AC Tarique Ghaffur
• Stephen Rimmer (Director of Strategy, Modernisation & Performance)
• DAC Rose Fitzpatrick
• Commander Bob Broadhurst
• Commander Jo Kaye.

44. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Damian Hockney and Joanne McCartney.

45. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations were made.

46. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the Authority meeting held on 6 September 2007 be confirmed and signed as correct record.

47. Minutes of committees

(Agenda item 4)

The minutes of the following committees were received for information:

• Professional Standards & Complaints Committee, 13 September
• Corporate Governance Committee, 14 September
• Finance Committee, 20 September
  
  Resolved – That the minutes of Committees be received and noted.

48. METROPOLITAN POLICE SERVICE YOUTH STRATEGY

(Agenda item 6)

Jennette Arnold declared a personal interest in relation to this item by virtue of her being a patron of the Victoria Climbié Trust.

The Authority considered a report seeking the Authority’s endorsement of the MPS Youth Strategy. This had been the subject of extensive consultation following which it had been approved by the MPA Management Board.

Members welcomed the strategy as a clear and cross-cutting document, although some perceived omissions were highlighted in the discussion on the strategy. It was agreed that a ‘popularised’ version of the document would be needed for the wider audience. A better understanding was needed about where the role of policing ended and that of other agencies began. The emphasis on community engagement was welcomed and members emphasised the importance of engaging with young people themselves to capture their perspective and their views about what provision they wanted.

There was some concern about the lack of timelines for implementation. It was recognised that the strategy was a living and evolving document, but there needed to be a process for monitoring the success of outcomes on a regular basis. It was also important that the MPS was able to respond to emerging trends in youth crime and adapt the strategy accordingly, for instance with regard to the use of dogs. It was also suggested that the strategy needed to address the issues around the radicalisation of Muslim youth in particular.

There was some concern that the strategy did not address the criminal justice issues that led to more young people being imprisoned in the United Kingdom than elsewhere in Europe, nor that it considered the needs of migrant children because of their significant vulnerability and the conflicting approaches of different parts of the Home Office – on the one hand to try to protect them and on the other to seek their deportation.

In responding to these and other issues raised by members, DAC Rose Fitzpatrick confirmed that the strategy had deliberately short timescales so that it was a living document and its implementation would be monitored rigorously through performance focused action plans. The MPS was looking to engage with young people in a variety of ways to shape the work and to comment on whether it was being effective. However, she recognised that this would be a real challenge. The intention was to use a number of contact points, as not all young people would be comfortable with the more formal consultation mechanisms. The intention was to make the document relevant to various communities and audiences. Implementation of the strategy would raise a number of national issues and the MPS was well placed to press for change through its involvement on various London-wide boards and agencies.

Resolved – That the MPS Youth Strategy 2008-2010 be supported and endorsed.

49. MPA SCRUTINY – YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE MPS

(Agenda item 7)

The Authority considered a report seeking approval to the proposed terms of reference for this forthcoming scrutiny.

The Chief Executive reported that these had previously been considered by the Co-ordination & Policing Committee. The Committee had requested changes to limit the scope of the scrutiny to provide a better focus. This had now been done. The Chief Executive confirmed that the MPA had the staff resources to support this scrutiny.

The Commissioner confirmed that he supported the carrying out of this scrutiny and would be prepared to attend a consultation session with young people if invited.

Resolved  –That the proposed terms of reference for this scrutiny be approved.

50. CHAIR’S UPDATE

(Agenda Item 5)

The Chair commented that the MPA was unable to ignore the recent press coverage on alleged disagreements at the top of the MPS. He wished to state his personal position that the Commissioner and his Management Board continued to have his full confidence. He deplored the distractions caused by the headlines. However, he considered that Authority members needed the opportunity to reflect on the issues. As these concerned individuals he considered that this discussion should be held in closed session. Accordingly he moved, it was duly seconded and

Resolved - That under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as detailed in paragraph 3?? of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

The press and public were asked to leave the meeting at this point.

Members then held a discussion in closed session and agreed an Authority position which the Chair communicated to the media outside the meeting.

The open session of the Authority meeting resumed at 12.20 p.m. with Reshard Auladin in the Chair. He made a brief statement of the outcome of the members’ discussion. He confirmed that members had discussed the issues that had arisen in the media over the previous days. No-one had moved a vote of confidence in the Commissioner and there had been overwhelming support for him. The Authority endorsed the achievements of the MPS over the past two and a half years and did not wish the Commissioner and his management team to be distracted by unfounded media reporting from their work. Members would continue to work with the management team and would hold them rigorously to account for improving operational performance.

51. PERFORMANCE: COMMISSIONER’S UPDATE

(Agenda item 12)

Stephen Rimmer, the Director of Strategy, Modernisation and Performance introduced a report analysing the MPS performance against the context of the challenges it had faced in the previous 2-3 years and looking at the strategic priorities for the next 2-3 years. He suggested that the MPS’s directional improvement was clear, positive and sustainable. Whilst there were areas where further improvements were required the performance hopefully demonstrated an organisation on the right track.

Members welcomed the sustained improvement in performance across the range of MPS activities, both in reducing and solving crime. It was felt that this showed amongst other things that the investment in the Safer Neighbourhoods programme and in Counter-Terrorism was paying dividends. However, some areas remained challenging. For instance, gun crime significantly affected specific communities, bringing them to crisis point. It was also the case that migrant communities were less likely to report crime and there were continuing concerns about the possible under-reporting of crimes such as rape or racial harassment. There was also the need to understand the issues in relation to the differing performance between boroughs and, for instance, the differences between communities or age groups in terms of views expressed in public attitude surveys.

Members also welcomed the progress being achieved in the recruitment of Black and minority ethnic officers, noting the Commissioner’s correction of press misreporting in that the figures referred to in paragraph 17 of the report referred to the percentage of recruits rather than, as reported, the percentage of the total officer numbers. There was a continuing challenge in respect of the progression of BME officers through the ranks and a view amongst members that it was necessary to continue with positive action to ensure progression to the higher ranks.

The Commissioner and the Director of Human Resources responded that the MPS had successfully reversed the trend of more minority ethnic recruits leaving the force during training than their white counterparts. There was a long way to go to improve on progression, particularly beyond the rank of sergeant, and it was confirmed that the MPS would be continuing with positive action in this regard with the next programme being launched shortly. Progress was being achieved not just with regard to ethnicity but also gender, with two out of five recruits now female and one in four recruits now BME.

With regard to the other issues raised, the Commissioner commented that in the previous few days new data had shown increased confidence in neighbourhood policing and the perception that anti-social behaviour and drug use was falling. The difference between BME and white satisfaction levels was narrowing. However, citizen focus remained the big challenge for the MPS, to deliver consistency in routine encounters.

In response to members’ questions and comments Stephen Rimmer commented that in the New Year he would be producing for the Authority the first of annual reports on the benefits that had been achieved by efficiency and effectiveness reviews.

In response to members’ questions:

In relation to abstractions for policing of the Climate Camp, AC Ghaffur reported that planning had been conducted on the basis of available intelligence and resources – neighbourhood officers had been used to provide reassurance in the local community. It was correct that the policy referred to only three or four public order events for which abstractions were allowed, but there was also provision for this to be allowed when extraordinary levels of demand were anticipated.

The Commissioner confirmed that Paddington Green High Security Police Station would not be fit for purpose for much longer. The Authority would be asked in due course to consider a proposal for exchange of some accommodation with the Prison Service at relatively low cost.

Commander Broadhurst commented that Richard Barnes had not been invited to the police debrief on Operation Harcourt as he had felt that the presence of a member might have hindered the free exchange of views and comments of the officers concerned. He would, however, be happy to attend any community meetings to discuss feedback on the operation.

The Commissioner said that he would ask AC House to contact Peter Herbert to discuss the issues raised by Peter Herbert in respect of Operation Palladin.

Resolved  –

1. That the performance update be noted and the strategic direction set out in it endorsed; and

2. That the Authority congratulates AC House on his promotion as Chief Constable of Strathclyde

52. ACPO CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TASER TRIAL BY SPECIALLY TRAINED OFFICERS

(Agenda item 9a)

The Authority considered a report asking for approval for the MPS to participate in the ACPO Conflict Management Taser Trial. It also considered a report on Taser usage and its diversity implications.

Members recognised that the paper before them addressed some of the issues raised when the proposal was considered by the Co-ordination and Policing Committee. Some members were opposed to any extension in the use of Taser, for instance because disproportionate usage would cause enormous damage to minority communities and their relationship with the police, and because this was seen as an escalation in terms of having weapons on the street. Other members were not necessarily opposed in this way but did not consider that enough information or a business case had yet been provided to enable them to come to a decision. Members’ concerns and requests for further information included:

• What safeguards would be put in place so that Taser was not used on children
• Further information on the training that would be provided (including whether this
• addressed identifying mental health issues), how rigorous the selection process would be
• and how high up the chain of command decisions would be taken on the deployment of Taser
• The ethnic mix of the officers who would be deployed with Taser as part of the pilot
• Whether an Equality Impact Assessment had been carried out
• The research basis for the statement that Taser sits below batons and CS spray in the hierarchy of ‘less lethal options’
• How the trial would be presented to Londoners as this appeared to now represent a ‘more lethal option’, and in particular where there are valid reasons for the current disproportionality in Taser usage an explanation of why this is
• What parameters would be set for the pilot and how it would be evaluated before any decisions on further roll-out

At the Commissioner’s suggestion, members agreed to a seminar/demonstration of Taser before a further paper addressing members’ concerns was brought back to the full Authority. It was suggested that Amnesty International and the Police Federation should be involved in that seminar.

Resolved – That

1. Decisions on the proposed pilot be deferred;

2. A seminar and demonstration be arranged for members followed by a further report to the full Authority addressing members’ concerns; and

3. the Equalities and Diversity Board was the appropriate mechanisms for working with the MPS to monitor Taser usage.

53. AMENDMENTS TO STANDING ORDERS

(Agenda item 10)

The Authority considered a report proposing some changes to Standing Orders and it was

Resolved  – That approval be given to

1. the proposed amendment to Standing Orders, as recommended by the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee;

2. the substitution of paragraph 11 of financial regulations; and

3. the amended paragraph 3.3 of the contract regulations

54. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES

(Agenda item 11)

The Authority considered a report on committee membership and it was

Resolved  –

1. To appoint Damian Hockney to the membership of the Finance Committee until June 2008; and

2. to note Richard Barnes’ resignation from the membership of the Planning, Performance and Review Committee – a replacement would be considered outside of the meeting

55. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

(Agenda item 15 and 16)

The following items were received for information: Governance and accountability of counter terrorist policing – update (agenda item 15) and Committee annual reports (Agenda item 16).

Resolved  - That agenda items 15 and 16 be noted.

In view of the time and the business remaining to be transacted, it was agreed that the following items would be deferred to future meetings of the full Authority:

• A review of the MPA policy on charging for events
• Road fatalities
• MPS business group – Specialist Crime Directorate

The meeting ended at 1.35 p.m.

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