Policing in the 21st century: reconnecting police and the people - MPA member response

Report: 8
Date: 30 September 2010
By: Chief Executive

Summary

Attached at Appendix 1 is the MPA response to the Home Office ‘Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People’ consultation document. This was sent to the Home Office on 20 September, the end of the consultation period, but with the caveat that it would be ratified at this meeting.

A. Recommendations

That members ratify the MPA response to the contents of Home Office Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People consultation document at Appendix 1.

B. Supporting information

1. The Home Secretary announced the set of reforms for policing contained within the consultation document ‘Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People’ on 26 July 2010. An eight week consultation period followed, with a deadline of 20 September 2010 for all responses to be received by the Home Office.

2. A summary of the consultation document was sent to members mid August and views were sought via email, given the difficulties posed by the summer recess, and at a workshop on 2 September. A first draft of the MPA Member Response was circulated on 8 September.

3. Following receipt of comments, a second iteration was developed and presented to SOP committee on 16 September 2010. A third iteration was then produced, taking on board the discussion at that meeting, and submitted to the Home Office via email on 17 September and in hard copy on 20 September, but with the caveat that it would be ratified at this meeting.

4. Meetings with Ministers and Home Office officials have taken place throughout the eight week consultation.

5. The key aspects of the London model that are proposed in Appendix 1 are:

1. The Mayor should be the PCC, with a power to designate a nominated person to discharge the functions of this role, but retain responsibility and accountability as the elected individual.
2. The PCC should have at the very least the same powers that police authorities currently possess, including setting the strategy, priorities and performance outcome and standard, holding and controlling the budget, owning the assets, contracts, estate and data and employing police staff. The PCC should also be able to make recommendations to The Queen regarding the appointment of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, have the power to dismiss the Commissioner and to approve appointments made by the MPS Commissioner of Association of Police Chief Officers and senior police staff. He or she should also manage complaints.
3. The PCC should have the power to appoint a non-executive advisory board, to be named the Mayor’s Police and Crime Commission.
4. Scrutiny of the performance and decision-making of the PCC should be conducted by a panel of the London Assembly. Any Assembly Members on the PCP should not be eligible to be members of the Police and Crime Commission.
5. Statutory officers, including a finance officer will be required, and the capacity to manage audit, risk, and assurance independently of the force.
6. The PCC should be a statutory member of any oversight board to be established for the National Crime Agency and the Bill should enable the PCC to establish arrangements to oversee criminal justice and community safety joint working in London.
7. Whatever timings are proposed for the changes in governance must take into account the Olympics and other major events planned in 2012.
8. Resource neutrality could be achieved through increased cost effectiveness resulting from the sharing of services.

C. Other organisational and community implications

1. Equalities impact

1.1 It has been noted that the Home Office Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People document lacks detail on the equality and diversity implications of the proposed changes. We have considered and raised concerns as appropriate in the MPA response.

2. Met Forward

2.1 The success of Met Forward is highlighted as one of the MPA successes in the MPA response.

3. Financial implications

3.1 There is no reference to the possibly very significant financial implications of the changes proposed in the Home Office Policing the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People document, and in particular the cost associated with electing Police and Crime Commissioners, although this has been raised as a concern in meetings with Ministers and Home Office officials.

4. Legal implications

4.1 There will be major legal implications but detailed consideration of these will have to await publication of the Bill.

5. Environmental implications

5.1 There are no environmental implications to note at this stage.

6. Risk implications

6.1 The proposed changes to policing governance present significant risks to policing, particularly during the period of transition and given the proposed timing of the changes in the run up to the Olympic and Paralympic games.

D. Background papers

• Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People MPA Response (attached Appendix 1)

E. Contact details

Report author(s): Catherine Crawford, MPA

For more information contact:

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

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