Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 28 February 2008 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Len Duvall (Chair)
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair)
• Tony Arbour
• Jennette Arnold
• Richard Barnes
• Faith Boardman
• Dee Doocey
• Toby Harris
• Nicky Gavron
• Kirsten Hearn
• Peter Herbert
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Jenny Jones
• Joanne McCartney
• 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)
• Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Sir Ian Blair (Commissioner)
• Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner)
• Tim Godwin (Assistant Deputy Commissioner)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of Human Resources)
• Anne McMeel (Director of Strategic Finance)
• Richard Riley (Director, Strategy and Modernisation)

96. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair) and Damian Hockney.

97. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations were made.

98. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

Members considered the minutes of the Authority meeting held on 31 January 2008.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Authority meeting held on 31 January 2008 be agreed and be signed as a correct record.

99. Minutes of committees

(Agenda item 4)

The minutes of the following committees were received for information:

• Finance Committee – 11 December 2007
• Planning, Performance and Review Committee - 13 December 2007
• Co-ordination and Policing Committee - 10 January 2008
• Professional Standards and Complaints Committee – 17 January 2008

Resolved – That the minutes of Committees be received and noted.

100. Chair's update

(Agenda item 5)

David Riddle/Monitoring Officer role

The Chair of the Authority informed members that this would be the last meeting that David Riddle would be attending as MPA Deputy Chief Executive, prior to his retirement, although he would be continuing to provide the Authority with part time legal support until a new Solicitor is appointed. Both members and senior officers from the MPS joined in thanking him for his work with the Authority and wished him a happy retirement.

Members agreed that in the interim, the Head of Corporate Secretariat would act as the Authority’s Monitoring Officer.

Oversight of Olympic/Paralympic Games 2012

Members agreed with the Chair that between now and the May Mayoral and GLA elections, Toby Harris, Reshard Auladin, Cindy Butts and himself should join Richard Sumray in providing an informal oversight on policing matters and the Olympic/Paralympic games. This would be reviewed after the elections.

Policing of London’s airports

The Chair confirmed that agenda item 12 related to the signing of agreements relating to policing at Heathrow airport. He added that he was disappointed that a similar arrangement for the policing of London City Airport did not exist and that he would be raising this concern with appropriate government departments.

Exempt information

The Chair informed members that he also wished to provide members with exempt information and that this would be raised during Part 2 of the meeting.

Resolved – That

1. the Head of Corporate Secretariat act as the Monitoring Officer; and
2. members note the arrangements for informal oversight of the policing matters and Olympic/Paralympic Games, until after the May Mayoral and GLA elections.

101. Corporate business plan

(Agenda item 6)

A report was received that reminded members that the business plan submission to the Mayor had been agreed in November 2007 and that the plan was now in the process of being completed to form the Policing London Business Plan 2008-11. It would include critical performance areas and targets that would be used to monitor delivery of the corporate objectives during 2008/09. The report outlined to members the progress in developing the performance challenge for 2008/09, including current draft proposals for the critical performance areas and target setting process.

In noting that the plan would be presented to next month’s Authority meeting for approval, the Chair asked that, the narrative of the plan, included comment on the overlaying principle of policing, such as preventing crime.

The MPS Director of Strategic Finance informed members that the Mayor had included £1.2m in the 2008/09 budget to ensure the full roll out of the ‘No Witness/No Justice programme and that there was a further £5m flexibility in the budget waiting for Authority direction following the Government’s announcement relating changes in employer’s national insurance contributions thresholds.

The Chair of the Authority raised issues regarding the role of the MPA and in particular borough link members working with local partners and borough commanders. He asked for new advice to be provided to borough link members on how they could influence targets and planning issues at a local level in a consistent way.

Members raised a number of other points including:

• the need to include in the plan the implementation of Every Child Matters;
• some concern about expressing targets as a percentage of percentages;
• closer working with London Councils, particular around issues such the Sustainability Bill;
• ensuring that citizen focus is prominent in the plan.

Members also asked that the MPA should in future be engaged with the development of the plan at an earlier stage.

Resolved – That

1. Members note the progress on the work regarding the performance challenges for 2008/09, including the critical performance areas and target setting process; and
2. note the members feedback on the developing Policing London Business Plan.

102. Crime data recording scrutiny

(Agenda item 7)

Members received a report that summarised the findings of the Crime Data Recording Scrutiny. Members welcomed the findings and recommendations of the scrutiny and thanked those officers who had contributed to the work of the scrutiny.

In considering the findings and recommendations of the scrutiny, members raised a number of points, including:

• The need for consistency of use of language between the MPS and partners.
• Clarity around what is centrally managed.
• The need to rebut incorrect data in the public domain.
• Stop and Search data should be looked at separately.
• The MPS should on occasions wait until a scrutiny is complete before implementing recommendations.

Resolved – That members agree the content and recommendations outlined in the final draft of the report.

103. MPA Counter terrorist oversight

(Agenda item 8)

A report was considered that outlined work under development across police authorities to embed oversight arrangements for counter terrorist policing. It also sought agreement on proposals for similar arrangements for the MPA.

Arising from the discussion it was agreed that the Authority needed to consider an overview of recent developments of the PREVENT strand.

In connection with this item, members briefly discussed the monitoring of conversations between a Member of Parliament and a prisoner. The Commissioner confirmed that an investigation had proven that the monitoring was lawful and that the recording had been destroyed.

Resolved – That

1. the Chief Executive work with the Chair, lead members and Senior Management Team (SMT) to develop count terrorism (CT) business management to support counter oversight arrangements for counter terrorism; and
2. oversight arrangements remain as currently established, with formal public reporting across MPA committees and non-public scrutiny by the Home Secretary’s appointee and the Deputy Chair, appropriately vetted; and
3. A CT Oversight Group is established to support Members and provide co-ordinated oversight and management of CT business across the Authority.

104. Independent members recruitment

(Agenda item 9)

A report was received that outlined the changes to the basis of the recruitment process for the MPA’s Independent membership consequent upon the provisions of the Police and Justice Act 2006.

The report also sought members’ agreement to the timetable for the recruitment and appointment of members’ appointments to the Selection Panel.

In agreeing the arrangements outlined in the report, the Chair agreed to discuss with appropriate officers and partners whether to seek Home Secretary approval to a shorter term of office, to bring them back in line with that for Assembly member appointments. Thought was needed, however, as the advisability of member changes just before the 2012 Olympic/Paralympics.

Resolved - That

1. the timetable for the recruitment and appointment of Independent members be endorsed;
2. Len Duvall and Elizabeth Howlett be representatives on the Selection Panel; and
3. appointments to the Appointments Panel will be sought at the Authority’s Annual Meeting.

105. Amendment to committee calendar

(Agenda item 10)

Members considered a report, which sought amendments to the current committee calendar

Resolved - That

1. the Authority meeting on 26 June 2008 be reinstated and meeting scheduled for 3 July 2008 be cancelled; and
2. the annual meeting of the Authority be held on 29 May 2008.

106. Commissioner's update

(Agenda item 11)

Performance issues

Members received the performance information for April 2007 to January 2008 compared with April 2006 to January 2007. As part of the ‘headlines’ from the performance information, the Commissioner highlighted that robbery for the year to date was the lowest since 2000/2001, that gun enabled crime was down 1.4% with the lowest total in the last seven years and that violence against the person and sexual offences had both declined by 5%.

In response to members’ questions, the Commissioner confirmed that gun enabled crime figures did include the use of CS spray and that he was discussing with the Home Office the redefinition of this offence.

Operational and non-operational news

embers received the monthly operational and non-operational news. In particular, the Commissioner drew attention to the current numbers of special constables, which now stood 2,000 officers. He agreed to circulate to members’ data in relation to diversity and how many had become police officers.

Other matters

Senior officer appointments/SO15

The Commissioner confirmed that Bob Quick had been appointed as Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations and he thanked Surrey Police Service for releasing him to the MPS so speedily. The Commissioner was joined by members in thanking Peter Clarke for covering this post and wished him a happy retirement.

Following the end of a number of counter terrorist trials, the Commissioner and members thanked SO15 for the continuing work in this field.

Heathrow Airport and Houses of Parliament

The Authority and the Commissioner joined in condemning the recent breaches of security at these sites. In relation to the Houses of Parliament, investigations on how demonstrators gained access were on going, but it was suspected that they gained entry with assistance from somebody within the House.

Conviction of Levi Bellfield

Members thanked the Commissioner and the officers involved in the conviction of Levi Bellfield for two murders and an attempted murder in South-West London. In turn, the Commissioner added his thanks to the officers involved in the case and added that the Judge in the trial had commended Colin Sutton, the lead officer on the case. The Commissioner added that the Judge had commented on how difficult the investigation had been due to the nature of the attacks and his disappointment that some of the reporting of the case which had indicated that mistakes had been made.

Lotfi Raissi v Home Office

Members sought comment from the MPS on the recent case at the Court of Appeal where Mr Lotfi Raissi had been granted a claim to appeal for wrongful detention. The Deputy Commissioner said he understood members’ concerns. The decision was currently being appealed and also investigated by the IPCC and that it would wrong for the MPS to comments at this stage. However, the Deputy Commissioner, with agreement of the Chair and members, confirmed that MPS would present a report on this matter and findings to a future meeting of the Authority.

BNP election leaflets

At the January meeting of the Authority, some members had expressed a concern in relation to BNP, Mayor and GLA election leaflets and sought an update. The Commissioner confirmed that he was seeking specialist advice on this matter and would provide members with details once received.

Attack on the new Stephen Lawrence Centre

The Commissioner confirmed that three arrests had been made following the attack on the Stephen Lawrence Centre in Deptford. In doing so, he reminded members that this was considered to be a racist attack as the definition for doing so was clear.

Use of dog as a weapon

The Commissioner confirmed that work was currently being undertaken and that a briefing for interested members could be provided.

Partnership teams and Borough Workforce Targets

Members briefly discussed the buying in of additional officers through partnership teams and raised concerns relating to borough workforce targets (BWT) in some boroughs. The MPS Director of Human Resources provided members with a brief outline on current BWT and it was agreed that the Co-ordination and Policing Committee should received a report on the purchase of additional officers at a future meeting, which would also focused on current BWT shortfalls, bids for additional officers and the methodology for the current moratorium on recruitment.

Member of Parliament expenses

In response to members’ questions, the Commissioner confirmed that he had written to Mr John Lyon, who is responsible for standards in the House of Commons, regarding a member of the House who had paid members of his family to undertake work, which had not been undertaken by them. The Commissioner confirmed that the letter had asked if his officers were going to be asked to investigate this case.

Resolved – That

1. following the appeal and IPCC investigation the Authority receives a report on the Lotfi Raissi case; and
2. the Co-ordination and Policing Committee receive a report on the purchase of additional officers at a future meeting. The report would also focus on current BWT shortfalls, bids for additional officers and the methodology for the current moratorium on recruitment

107. Urgent action taken by Chief Executive

(Agenda item 12)

Members received details, for information, of action taken under delegated authority on the grounds of urgency, in accordance with Standing Orders 6.1.

Resolved – That the members receive the report.

108. Exclusion of the press and public

(Agenda item 13)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during remaining items on the agenda as they were likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act 1972, paragraphs 3 and 5.

Resolved - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the remaining items on the agenda

Part 2

Exempt minutes of the Full Authority meeting held on 28 February 2008.

Summary of exempt items

109. Transforming Met HR procurement

(Agenda item 14a and b)

Members consider two reports on the transforming Met HR procurement

110. Chairs’ update

(Agenda item 5)

The Chair of the Authority asked the MPS to provide information to members regarding the MPS vehicle fleet.

The meeting closed at 1.50 pm

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback