Minutes

Minutes of the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 4 December 2008 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Reshard Auladin (Chair)
• Jennette Arnold
• Chris Boothman
• James Cleverly
• Toby Harris (item 1-12)
• Neil Johnson (item 1-10)
• Jenny Jones
• Joanne McCartney (item 1-12)
• Caroline Pidgeon

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• Jane Harwood (Assistant Chief Executive)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Officer)

MPS officers

• Caroline Bates (D Supt, SCD5)
• Simon Bray (Cdr, Response and Patrol, TP)
• Allan Gibson (Cdr, Child Protection & Economic Crime, SCD)
• Tim Godwin (Acting Dep Commissioner)
• Simon Hart (A/Director, Financial Services)
• Stuart Osborne (Cdr, Directorate Professional Standards)

18. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Cindy Butts and Steve O’Connell (members).

19. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations were made.

20. Minutes: Strategic and Operational Policing Committee – 13 November 2008 (part 1)

(Agenda item 3)

Members considered the minutes of the above meetings.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee (Part 1) held on 13 November 2008 be agreed and be signed as a correct record.

21. Minutes: Planning, Performance and Review Committtee - 11 September 2008

(Agenda item 4)

A member had asked for changes to the minutes as presented to the Committee on 11 September 2008. The revised minutes were considered and agreed.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Planning, Performance and Review Committee held on 11 September 2008 be agreed and be signed as a correct record.

22. Olympics/Paralympics Sub-committee terms of reference

(Agenda item 5)

At the last meeting of this Committee a report was received that, amongst other things, proposed terms of reference (ToR) for the Olympics and Paralympics Sub Committee. Members suggested various amendments to these and resolved that the ToR be redrafted. Members were now asked to agree the revised ToR.

Resolved – That the proposed Terms of Reference for the Olympics / Paralympics Sub Committee be agree.

23. MPA response to ‘Time for Action’

(Agenda item 6)

On 3 November 2008 the Mayor of London launched his youth plan ‘Time for Action’. The plan provided an opportunity to build on and develop existing projects and initiatives to tackle youth crime and was a holistic response targeting a number of different risk factors concurrently. The report noted that in taking forward the projects outlined in the plan the MPA would need to consider how the Mayoral plan related to existing and forthcoming MPS strategic frameworks.

Joanne McCartney said she was leading the panel preparing the GLA response to the plan, to which the MPS would be presenting evidence. Members felt the report left questions unanswered, such as information about victims and links between bullying and truancy. They also asked if the report was written in the way it was because Mayor was Chair of the Police Authority and was, in effect, responding to his own strategy. Other comments included:

• the role of MPA link members in promoting and assessing the impact of the plan at a borough level be more clearly defined, as the Authority was a statutory partner in CDRPs;
• a link member’s role should be narrow, because of time restraints on members;
• the Mayor’s youth plan was a waste of time as neither the Mayor or MPS could achieve the plan’s aims without the assistance of partners;
• the MPA should not ignore the plan but develop it as far as possible;
• ‘Time for Action’ recognised that young people needed to find schools attractive places to be, however the MPS should be making schools safe for young people;

The Chief Executive stated that there were lots of good projects in London and an appendix should be added to the report stating this. She added that the panel led by Joanne McCartney should also hear representation from the MPA. Joanne McCartney replied that her panel would take evidence from the MPS, but it had to be received before 16 December 2008. It was agreed the report should be revised and submitted to the Mayor’s panel by this date.

Resolved – That the report be revised in the light of members comments and submitted both to the panel and the Mayor as the Metropolitan Police Authority response to the Mayor’s ‘Time for Action’ plan.

24. Joint Engagement Meeting (JEMs)

(Agenda item 7)

The Committee received a report outlining proposals for developing a Joint Engagement Meeting (JEM) process that promoted problem solving between the MPS, local authorities and partner agencies. The process was nearing the end of the pilot stage and response had been positive to date. Thus far, support had been provided from within the MPA and MPS, however supporting the next phase of the roll out would put strain upon both organisations.

Members were informed that the report would not be discussed today and that a further report would be submitted in the new year giving information on the purpose of JEMS, its costs, opportunity costs and cost benefits, and oversight of JEMs. Members requested that the report should also include the outcomes of the three pilots. They were concerned by the desire to complete all boroughs by April 2009 and the corresponding resource implications. The Assistant Chief Executive requested that members email any comments on the report to her. The Chair noted that performance was part of this Committee’s remit and that the Committee should therefore have a role in the JEMS initiative.

Resolved – That a revised report be received at the next meeting of the Committee.

25. The MPS Policing Pledge

(Agenda item 8)

A report was received describing progress in relation to the Government Green Paper ‘Policing Pledge’ and proposed arrangements for the introduction of an MPS’s Policing Pledge.

Members made the following comments in relation to the ‘Pledge’:

• a condensed version of ‘Pledge ‘need to be made available to the public. Members were told that such a version would be available and that the internet would also be used to disseminate and publicise the ’Pledge’;
• the language used in the report was queried; for example would the public understand ‘serious assault’ and ‘risk assessment’ in the context used?
• vulnerable victims should not be treated as non urgent in relation to 999 responses. (AC TP undertook to speak to the member about this outside the meeting.);
• when would the public expect to see a forensic expert?
• the reference to stop and search should include treating people with respect;
• had the response times been thought through and could they be achieved?
• would there be a triage system for answering calls?
• would the impetus to respond to calls within given timescales distort rational decision making?
• would the ‘Pledge’ encourage more calls;
• the ‘Pledge’ should be more assertive, and the fact the MPS ‘fight crime’ be woven into the document?
• did all Safer Neighbourhood Teams respond equally to calls?
• the MPS should obtain a ‘Plain English Campaign’ crystal mark for the ‘Pledge’.

The Assistant Commissioner TP agreed with many of the comments made; he stated that there was a need for stretching targets and that a borough performance regime would be needed. A website forum would be available for the public to comment on the ‘Pledge’. A MPS had a triage system run in accordance with ‘National Standards for Incident Recording’ guidelines. Members felt it was one thing for the MPA to understand if a target was not met, and another for the public. What would the MPS do when it did not meet the targets? The AC TP said the ‘Pledge’ did not guarantee to meet its targets and that it was planned that BOCUs would contact people when targets had not been met, to explain and apologise. It was suggested that this was highlighted in the ‘Pledge’ to prevent the public expecting financial compensation.

Resolved - That

1. the MPS Policing Pledge Our Promise to Citizens and support its implementation in January 2009 be endorsed, subject to the comments made at the meeting; and
2. that a further report on the pledge be received in September 2009

26. Analysis of the reduction in gun crime and identification of good practice

(Agenda item 9)

Members received a report addressing the current reduction in gun crime across the MPS and identifying good practice and outline initiatives that could be adapted or transferred to address knife crime.

In answer to questions, members were told that the number of shootings, although falling had not fallen to the same degree. AC TP stated that the Home Office was monitoring hospital reports of knife crimes; he would share the data with the MPS when he received it. Members asked questions about covert assets and the relationship between SCD7 (Flying Squad), OCUs and Safer Neighbourhood Team during operations. They also asked if gun crime hotspots were known to the public. Members were informed that IAGs and other partners discussed them, but there was a delicate balance between sharing knowledge and frightening the public. Crime mapping had also put crime data into the public domain, but only on a post code basis.

Resolved - That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the proposal that good practice should be collated and shared across boroughs and externally be endorsed.

27. DPS – Strategic Intelligence Assessment 2008/09

(Agenda item 10)

The Strategic Intelligence Assessment provided the framework for professional standards - identifying key areas and addressing developing issues. The Chair stated the report covered an area of work formally covered by the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee and that similar reports had been received by that committee on a regular basis to assure members that measures were in place to measure risk.

In noting that, following the Taylor reforms, conduct would be managed across OCUs; members asked how consistency would be maintained. They were informed that there was benchmarking across all OCUs, all sanctions had to be cleared by Professional Standards Directorate and each OCU had staff especially trained staff. In response to questions, members were told that as the result of an MPS review, an equalities forum would look at any disproportionality. Members asked how instances of misconduct cases came to light, and were told that a regular report was made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The Chair requested that a similar report come to this Committee.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. a report be received by the committee on how disproportionality came to light.

28. Conferring – changes in police practice

(Agenda item 11)

This report outlined the issues regarding the practice adopted by officers when making notes after they have been present at the same occurrence. The issue had been highlighted in reports by the MPA (Stockwell Scrutiny), IPCC, ACPO and was subject to a recent Judicial Review following an independent IPCC investigation into the shooting of a man by MPS officers in May 2008.

Members welcomed the change in ACPO guidance. It was noted that the MPS Police Federation were content with the guidance whereas Federation members elsewhere in the country had rejected it. There had been discussion about videoing officers conferring after an incident, but at the moment such facilities were not readily available. Members were informed that the Gold Group would produce its advice by 17 December 2008 and the research project would be complete in midsummer 2009.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

29. MPS response to the death of Baby P

(Agenda item 12)

A report was received providing a summary of:

• police involvement with Baby P prior to his death and the subsequent murder investigation and prosecution;
• the Serious Case Review’s recommendations and how the MPS had responded to these;
• details of other reviews being conducted into Haringey and wider MPS child protection services;
• changes in demand for the Child Abuse Investigation Command;
• improvements in information sharing in respect of children coming to notice following enhancements to the Merlin IT system;
• the implementation of Every Child Matters (ECM) and Public Protection Desks within the MPS.

The Commander, Child Protection and Economic Crime, stated that the MPS had that day received the HMIC’s report, and was considering its content. Members asked

• why MPS staff were not CRB checked;
• if the information put on Merlin was subjective;
• was the Merlin upgrade planned;
• why ‘Baby P’ was not removed from his home as recommended by police officers;
• about the churn in staff in Child Abuse Investigation Teams; and
• how organisational learning was shared?

They were told that officers had dropped their suggestion to remove the child in response to a care plan; however the care plan was subsequently not delivered. The AC TP stated that the MPS was determined to look after all children in London at no matter at what cost and that this death had highlighted the need to regularly revisit cases of child abuse. In regard to Merlin, officers were encouraged to report everything. Organisational learning was disseminated by regular planned meetings, and all recommendations were tracked. The Merlin upgrade was planned, because a common format was required by ECM.

It was noted that the Committee would receive a report on ECM at a future date. Members suggested that the further report on this particular case of child abuse include information on how the MPS was performing in relation to recommendations following the Victoria Climbié Inquiry.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. that a further report be submitted to the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee on 8 January 2009, following receipt of a report from the joint inspection of child protection in Haringey, currently being conducted by HMIC / Ofsted / Commission for Health.

30. Race and Faith Inquiry - panel remuneration

(Additional item)

This report was received proposing a basis for the remuneration of those persons appointed to the membership of the Race and Faith Inquiry Panel.

Resolved – That

1. the external members of the Race and Faith Inquiry be paid a sum of £5,000 per member for their work on the Inquiry; and
2. a further report be put to committee in due course proposing a policy on when it would be appropriate to remunerate MPA members over and above their allowance

31. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 12)

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, paragraph 3.

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

32. Authorisation for funding of legal representation and authorisation of requests for settlement of civil claims (if any)

(Agenda item 13)

No authorisation was sought.

33. Minutes: Strategic and Operational Policing Committee – 13 November 2008 (part 2)

(Agenda item 14)

Members considered the minutes of the above meetings.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee (Part 2) held on 13 November 2008 were agreed and be signed as a correct record.

The meeting ended at 4.35 p.m.

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