Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 26 February 2009 at Chamber, City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London, SE1 2AA.

Present

Members

• Boris Johnson (Chairman)
• Jennette Arnold (from item 5)
• Reshard Auladin
• Chris Boothman
• Victoria Borwick
• Valerie Brasse
• Cindy Butts
• James Cleverly
• Toby Harris
• Kirsten Hearn
• Jenny Jones
• Joanne McCartney
• Kit Malthouse (Vice Chairman)
• Steve O’Connell
• Caroline Pidgeon
• Deborah Regal
• Graham Speed
• Richard Tracey

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• Jane Harwood (Assistant Chief Executive)
• Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Sir Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner)
• Tim Godwin (Acting Deputy Commissioner)

76. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Faith Boardman, Dee Doocey, Len Duvall, Clive Lawton and Neil Johnson.

The Chairman informed the Authority that the Chief Executive had received a letter of resignation from the Authority from Len Duvall.

The Authority and the Commissioner asked that their thanks to Len Duvall be recorded and in doing so added that as Chairman of the Authority he had promoted open discussion and supported and valued the role of independent and magistrates members.

The Chairman of the Authority agreed to consider Len Duvall’s continued role with the Stockwell Scrutiny.

77. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations were made.

78. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

Members considered the minutes of the Authority meetings held on 29 January 2009.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Authority meetings held on 29 January 2009 be agreed and be signed as a correct record.

79. Chairman/Vice Chairman’s update

(Agenda item 4)

The Chairman apologised for his non attendance at the January meeting of the Authority, this was due to being out of the country.

As this was his first meeting with Sir Paul Stephenson in attendance since his appointment as Commissioner, he asked for his congratulations on Sir Paul’s appointment to be noted.

In doing so, the Chairman, highlighted some of the key areas on which he hoped that the Commissioner would be focusing including; tackling sexual offences, serious acquisitive crime and addressing racism. On the latter point he stressed the importance of eradicating racism and highlighted the improvements in the MPS following the 10-year anniversary of the Macpherson Report into the death of Stephen Lawrence. He acknowledged that there can be no room for compliancy and stressed the importance of working towards a police service that is representative of London’s communities and avoiding a culture of litigation and grievances. He looked forward to the findings of the Authority’s Race and Faith Inquiry and would be affording Cindy Butts the opportunity to update members later on the Inquiry’s progress.

In response to members’ questions the Chief Executive agreed that, in relation to a case to be heard at the Standards Committee on 4 March, a report would be presented to the full Authority in due course giving advice on members’ roles and responsibilities in respect of being a critical friend to anybody involved in a police investigation, issues of confidentiality and a protocol for dealing with the press.

Resolved – That the report be received.

80. Commissioner’s report

(Agenda item 5)

The Commissioner presented a report that summarised the progress of the MPS against the objectives featured in the 2008-2011 Policing Plan for London. The report covered the period between December 2008 and January 2009 with data for individual measures reflecting the 12-month period ending December 2008.

The Commissioner confirmed that the serious acquisitive crime rate was down 25% over 5 years, which was approximately 70,000 fewer offences. During April to December 2008 knife crime showed a 12.6% reduction compared with the corresponding period in 2007/08.

The Commissioner reminded members that since the previous meeting of the Authority there had been two further deaths of young people in London. He prefaced his comments on the figures for young people as victims of crime by stating that while there was a decline (1,612 fewer youth victims of crime in the corresponding period in 2007) any death of a young person was a tragedy.

The Commissioner then turned to those areas that he considered to be challenging the MPS.

While a 17% decrease in burglary was welcomed, the Commissioner considered that there was a need for the MPS to maintain burglary as a priority, particularly as the economic downturn required the MPS to be prepared for further challenges in this area. He confirmed that Operation Spotlight would be continued until 31 March 2009.

It was reported that there had been a 19.2% in offences of rape. The Commissioner stated that this was largely as a result of tighter reporting procedures and greater public confidence in the reporting crimes of this nature, however, he question at what point the MPS stopped being pleased that more people were confident to report offences and become concerned that there is an increased. He would have a better idea at the end of the reporting year when the full data is known. Arising from this discussion the Commissioner also highlighted his concerns at the increase in rape in domestic violence. Again, he added that this could be due to the economic downturn and the effects this has on home life, tighter reporting procedures and an increase confidence in the reporting. At this time there was no evidence to suggest a causal link between the increase in domestic violence incidents and the current recession. He confirmed that the MPS continued to work with partners (including London Councils and the GLA) on researching this matter and agreed that there was a need for further scrutiny of this increase.

Finally, the Commissioner confirmed that a recent MPS staff survey had resulted in a high proportion of staff expressing both job satisfaction and a feeling that their skills and abilities were being used. At a recent staff briefing he confirmed that he had outlined his vision for the MPS which he used the analogy of ‘5Ps’ (Presence; Performance, Productivity; Professionalism; and Pride). He confirmed that there would be further work around these and that as they were developed they would be shared with the Authority.

In welcoming the 5Ps, members highlighted the need to underpin these key areas and suggested that one key element would be the need to ensure that good supervisory skills were developed and through good training emphasis of the importance of leadership. Members also asked to be provided with details on how the MPS could evidence that it was a learning organisation.

Members felt if this was to happen then issues such properly risk assessed single patrolling could be further developed. On this point, the Acting Deputy Commissioner confirmed that the MPS were looking to develop single patrolling further; however, there was a need to fully understand the all issues around single patrolling. He added that work was being undertaken to development single patrolling, including new IT initiatives.

Issues raised by members

Crime mapping

Some members raised concerns that members of the public needed reassurance regarding the impact of crime mapping on insurance costs, house prices and criminals targeting vulnerable areas. The Commissioner agreed this reassurance could be given through a newsletter via safer neighbourhood teams. The Commissioner added that he did not believe that criminals were using crime mapping to target specific areas. The Acting Deputy Commissioner added that the maps were aimed at stimulating debate and areas of concern which could become a priority for local areas. He agreed with members that there was a need for crime mapping to be monitored.

Rape figures

Members acknowledged the dilemma in the increase in rape figures including in domestic violence. In doing so they asked about the MPS’s relationships with voluntary organisations on this matter. In particular, if there were any patterns about various community groups under reporting. The Commissioner agreed that the MPS worked closely with voluntary groups, but agreed that the Authority should receive a report on this issue. The Vice Chairman added that in reporting back to the Authority the MPS should note the work being undertaken by the GLA which was looking at ‘women involved in violence’ and the issues of reporting such crimes at front counters. Members also asked that this report include details on repeat victimisation.

Macpherson speech

Members noted that the Commissioner had given a speech at a meeting that discussed the Macpherson report 10 years on from the death of Stephen Lawrence and how the MPS had implemented the recommendations of the report. The Commissioner reiterated that he believed that the MPS had changed substantially following the publication of the report. However, there was no room for complacency and that he and colleagues would be working hard to remove those pockets that had not changed.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT)

The Acting Deputy Commissioner confirmed that due to pressures on the capital programme the siting of SNT into more accessible areas was likely to move into year 3 of the programme. He also added that this and other estate related issues were currently being considered by the Authority’s Etstes Panel.

Internal flights

Members raised with members the number of unnecessary internal flights that were being taken by the MPS. The Commissioner accepted that there was a need to restrict this and reassured members that such flights had to be approved at a high level.

Stop and search

Following the increase in use of stop and search, primarily to deal with the increase in knife crime, the Commissioner noted members’ concerns that the extensive use of these powers could be damaging members of the community’s support of this measure. He suggested a quick piece of scrutiny work on this. Cindy Butts, as Chair of the Communities, Equalities and People Committee confirmed that members would be considering stop and search issues and this would include community confidence/support.

Problem solving /‘Your Views Count’ staff survey

Members congratulated Southwark and Bromley on their recent problem solving awards. Arising from this, members asked for further details on greater integration of problem solving into the MPS and the Commissioner agreed to provide details of current problem solving initiatives in the MPS. He also agreed to inform members on the outcomes of the ‘your views count survey and in particular details of the percentages of job satisfaction of BME staff.

Patrolling of wards

Members raised concerns that the MPS policy of centralised location of patrol bases could have implications for the response times and patrolling of areas on the fringes of boroughs.

The Commissioner did not support the view that centralisation of patrol bases would have implications for response times and patrolling for outer areas of a borough. However, he agreed to look at this issue raised and provide a note back to members on his findings

Specialist Crime Directorate

Members welcomed the initiative by the Specialist Crime Directorate, with the help of Young Enterprise London to welcome 40 students from Southwark and Lambeth schools to New Scotland Yard, an event aimed to break down preconceptions about the police and possibility explore various career opportunities. Members stated that they would welcome this scheme being opening up to other boroughs.

Race and Faith Inquiry

The Chairman invited Cindy Butts to update members on the current progress of the Race and Faith Inquiry.

Members were informed that sessions of the Inquiry had taken place and that the reference group and focus groups were also operating.

The Inquiry remained in budget and following members’ questions it was confirmed that evidence would be sought from both past and present MPA members and former MPA staff.

Those issues that the Commissioner took an undertaking to report back to members have been circulated in the form of an addendum report and are appended to these minutes at Appendix 1.

Resolved – That the report be received.

81. Reports from committees

(Agenda item 6)

The Authority received a report outlining key issues that had been debated at recent Authority Committee meetings. The report covered the following meetings:

• Finance and Resources Committee – 26 January 2009
• Strategic and Policing Committee - 5 February 2009

Resolved - That the report be received.

82 Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 7)

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

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

Summary of exempt items

83. Independent Member selection panel

(Agenda item 8)

The Authority received a report that that sought the establishment of a sub- committee to consider a matter relating to the Independent Members Selection Panel.

The meeting closed at 12.00 noon

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