Minutes

Minutes of the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 8 January 2009 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Reshard Auladin (Chairman)
• Chris Boothman
• Cindy Butts (item 8-12 and 15-17)
• James Cleverly (item 5 to 14 and 15-16)
• Toby Harris
• Neil Johnson (item 1-8 and 13 - 17)
• Joanne McCartney
• Steve O’Connell (item 1 -8)
• Caroline Pidgeon.

MPA officers

• Annabel Adams (Deputy Treasurer)
• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• Jane Harwood (Assistant Chief Executive)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Officer)

MPS officers

• Steve Allen (Cdr, Westminster)
• Chris Allison (T/Assistant Commissioner)
• Helen Ball (Cdr, Serious and Organised Crime)
• Caroline Bates (D Supt, SCD5-Child Abuse Investigation Team)
• Allan Gibson (Cdr, Child Protection & Economic Crime, SCD)
• Chris Gibson (Director, Procurement Services)
• Tim Godwin (Acting Dep. Commissioner)
• Rod Jarman (Cdr, Safer Neighbourhood Teams)
• Diana Marchant (Director, Business Development)
• Anne McMeel (Director, Resources)
• Paul Minton (Cdr, Organisational Capacity and Criminal Justice Reform)
• John Whitaker (Director, Logistical Services)
• Gerwyn Williams (Head, Strategic Analysis)

Also present: Valerie Brasse.

34. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Jennette Arnold and Jenny Jones (members).

The Chair congratulated the Acting Dep Commissioner and others in the MPS on recognition in the New Year’s Honours,

35. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

It was noted that James Cleverly was the Mayor’s Ambassador for youth (item 10 - MPS response to the Mayor’s ‘Time for Action’) and Toby Harris was the Chair of the Independent Advisory Group for deaths in custody (item 13 - Forensic Medical Examiners).

36. Minutes: Strategic and Operational Policing Committee – 4 December 2008 (Part 1 and 2) – to agree

(Agenda item 3)

Members considered the minutes of the above meeting.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee (Part 1 and 2) held on 4 December 2008 be agreed and be signed as a correct record.

37. Revised terms of reference for the Counter Terrorism and Protective Services Sub-committee

(Agenda item 4)

Members were asked to ratify an amendment to the terms of reference for the Counter-Terrorism and Protective Services Sub Committee.

Resolved – That an amendment to the terms of reference for, the Counter-Terrorism and Protective Services Sub Committee be ratified.

38. Update on the policing London business plan 2009/12

(Agenda item 5)

This report presented members with the draft of the Policing London Business Plan 2009/12, offered details of outstanding items to be included in the next draft and detailed the progress of the Territorial Policing (TP) variable target setting process with a timetable for completion.

In introducing the report the Director of Resources requested comments on the appendix and views on how to introduce ‘Met Forward’. The Assistant Chief Executive informed members that ‘Met Forward’ was the front end plan based upon the MPA’s strategy. The Chair added that the completion of the business plan was an iterative process, and that members should be providing their input now, so that the final product could be agreed by the full Authority in March.

A member asked for a written briefing on why TP was losing over 300 officers. The Acting Dep Commissioner stated that this was due to fluctuating police numbers caused by the Initial Police Learning Development Programme (IPLDP) and the civilianisation of posts as a result of Operation Herald and undertook to provide the written briefing, adding that this explanation would also be provided to Chief Executives. The Director of Resources stated that the next version of the plan would provide an explanation of the IPLDP figures.

Resolved – That

1. the draft Policing London Business Plan 2009/12 and 2009/10 Critical Performance Area KPIs, where populated, be noted and commented upon,
2. the progress of, and timetable for, the TP variable target setting process be noted; and
3. a written briefing be received on TP’s loss of police officers.

39. Headline performance report - 12 months to October 2008

(Agenda item 6)

A report was received providing an overview of MPS performance for the rolling year to October 2008 with respect to the critical high level indicators and providing further information on performance with respect to other policing plan indicators and targets. The MPS was broadly on target for all except three of the critical performance areas; overall user satisfaction, the satisfaction gap between white and minority ethnic victims, and confidence in local policing. Members were particularly concerned by the satisfaction gap. The Acting Dep Commissioner stated that a lot of work in this area was being done by the Diversity Directorate, and offered the Committee a report at a future meeting.

The Assistant Chief Executive gave members an overview of the performance reporting regime which would be undertaken by the Committee, whereby the committee would receive regular performance reports from TP and business groups, with exceptional reporting where required.

Resolved – That

1. members note the update on performance against the Policing Plan; and
2. a report be received at a future meeting on work being done to close the satisfaction gap between white and minority ethnic victims.

40. Report on gun, knife and serious violent crime recording

(Agenda item 7)

The Commander, Organisational Capacity and Criminal Justice Reform, introduced a report outlining the latest position in relation to measuring gun crime in 2008/09, and the changes to the recording of gun, knife and serious violent crime.

Members asked if the changes to crime recording had been helpful and if the right things being recorded. Members were informed that some changes were helpful, others less so. For instance the definition for section 18, Offences against the Person Act, was not shared by the Crown Prosecution Service, so a crime was being recorded as ‘grievous bodily harm with intent’, but the police were unable to obtain a prosecution as the CPS downgraded the offence to ‘common assault’. The Commander, Organisational Capacity and Criminal Justice Reform, was talking to the Home Office about this issue and the Acting Dep Commissioner was raising the issue with London Criminal Justice Board (LCJB).

Resolved – That the report be noted.

41. MPS response to dangerous dogs

(Agenda item 8)

Pit bull-type dogs had become a weapon of choice for a number of people involved in gang-related crime, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour and as a result police and animal welfare agencies had seen incidents double year on year in relation to abandoned animals, dog-fighting, and dog seizures. This had created significant financial and resourcing issues for the MPS and affected the operational capability of the MPS Dog Support Unit. Members received a report proposing a reorganisation of existing resources in order to meet this challenge, provide a more proactive response and, thereby, better reassure the public.

Members welcomed the reported noting that dangerous dogs were also an issue for the GLA and London boroughs, that the issues required partnership working, changes to byelaws, more controls on dog ownership and that local authorities and social housing agencies should enforce rules in relation to animals. Members were pleased to note the involvement of the RSPCA, which they felt could provide useful intelligence to the police and felt that the policing of dangerous dogs should be a core policing function for BOCUs, supported by the specialist resource.

The Chair remarked that courts needed to be aware of the scale of the problem when dealing with such cases. The Acting Dep Commissioner undertook to raise this at the LCJB. The Chair also suggested that this was an area in which specialist volunteers might be recruited as Special Officers. He requested a further report in three months time.

Resolved - That

1. members note the action being taken by the MPS; and
2. a further report be received in April.

42. Developing the joint engagement meeting (JEM) process within the MPA

(Agenda item 9)

It had been agreed with the Chair, prior to the meeting, that this report be deferred because there had been insufficient time to complete the necessary stakeholder meetings in time to finalise the report.

43. MPS Response to the Mayor’s Time for Action

(Agenda item 10)

The Commander, Safer Neighbourhood Teams, introduced a report providing an update on how the MPS was responding to the Mayor’s Time for Action Strategy to tackle youth crime and improve opportunities for young people. It outlined work already in progress across the MPS under the MPS Youth Strategy. Members agreed with the MPS in welcoming the proposals in ‘Time for Action’ in relation to truancy, as the requirement for the police to intervene in serious cases of non-attendance and truancy had no statutory basis. They also welcomed the recognition that a large numbers of victims and offenders in recent homicide cases were not born in Britain, and that specific solutions were needed to tackle the problem. As Chair of the London Assembly ‘Time for Action’ Panel, Joanne McCartney stated that the concerns of the MPS and other contributors had been taken on Board.

Resolved – That

1. the MPS response to the Mayor’s Time for Action be noted; and
2. the MPS work with the Mayor and other partners to deliver a joined up approach to developing and delivering the Mayor’s “Time for Action” Strategy.

44. Every Child Matters implementation update

(Agenda item 11)

This report was dealt with after item 13 to bring it closer to item 16 on the agenda. It provided members with details of the work undertaken by the MPS to enhance the implementation of Every Child Matters (ECM) following the death of Baby P, an assessment of the effectiveness of the MERLIN system and an update on progress towards achieving safe vetting across the organisation.

Members felt ECM should be mainstreamed in the Violent Crime and Youth Strategies. They asked how action was coordinated between SCD5 and boroughs, who had oversight of the relationship, how the effectiveness of Merlin was assessed and how other agencies used the information held on MERLIN. They were told the relationship was overseen by the Commander of the Violent Crime Directorate who had oversight of the risks, given more information about MERLIN and told that in six boroughs Children’s Services staff worked on borough Public Protection Desks. This was a model the MPS would like to see followed on all boroughs. Members were also concerned by the vetting of MPS officers and staff working with children. They were told all officers and staff were vetted above Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) level and the reasons for not undertaking further checking of all staff unless required by the nature of their work.

Resolved – That the contents of this report be considered against the MPA ECM oversight document and the work undertaken by the ECM Programme Board support.

45. MPS Historical Collection business case

(Agenda item 12)

This report set out the current position of the MPS Historical Collection. It explored various suggestions for its future development and recommended relocation to the current recruitment centre at the front of Empress State Building, near Earls Court, west London. The Director of Logistical Services added that any decision today could only be made in principle, subject to confirmation that MPA was legally able to take such a decision.

Members noted the current Mayor’s desire to have it ‘blue light’ museum in London and felt there was an opportunity to co-locate with the London Fire Brigade’s museum, which was being displaced from Southwark, and urged urgent discussion with the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA). It was suggested that this might be added as a further recommendation. Members also felt the proposal for the historical collection fell short of its potential as a London tourist destination and merchandising opportunity on the lines of the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, run by the Imperial War Museum. The Director of Logistical Services stated the problems around the historical collection were longstanding, and that the proposal to relocate to Earls Court was an interim solution.

Resolved – That

1. members approve, subject to confirmation that the MPA could make such decisions:
   1. the relocation of the MPS Historical Collection to a central London/close to central London premises, to enable the set up of a Heritage Centre accessible by the general public; and
   2. either the re-invigoration of the existing Museum Trust or the setting up of a new Trust after consultation with the Charities Commission; and
2. members agree for urgent discussions with other agencies such as LFEPA and London Ambulance Service regarding the possible co-location of the MPS collection with other collections such as the London Fire Brigade Museum.

46. Urgent actions (if any)

(Agenda item 13)

Public order

The MPS had offered Committee members an oral briefing on public order in relation to London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations and demonstrations arising from the bombing of Gaza by Israel. This briefing was provided after item 4 as the Temp Assistant Commissioner could not stay for the whole meeting. He provided statistics about the policing of the New Year’s celebrations in central London, adding that the MPS would like to see numbers of attendees limited in future. He stated that the demonstrations arising from the Israeli bombing of Gaza illustrated the impact of outside events on the policing of London. There were now demonstrations each evening outside the Israeli Embassy, where the police had to balance the rights of the demonstrators, the Embassy, shopkeepers, residents, pedestrians and traffic. This was resource intensive, with 200 officers a day being utilised. On the previous evening there had also been a pro Israeli demonstration, and the two groups had had to be kept apart.

A march on 3 January had cost £300,000 to police. Members asked about this, as complaints had been made in relation to its policing. The Temp Assistant Commissioner reported that the march had been patrolled by officers in public order uniform, however a particular group of demonstrators had attacked the police and officers in protective clothing had been deployed and one shield advance had taken place. As a result two complaints had been made which would be fully investigated. A further update would be provided at the next full Authority meeting.

Forensic Medical Examiners (FMEs)

It had been agreed that an oral update would be provided by the MPS on Forensic Medical Examiners following newspaper articles on the subject at the weekend. The Commander, Organisational Capacity and Criminal Justice Reform, explained that the changes were intended to ensure the MPS have to ensure that they continue to provide best medical care, protect our officers and others who work in the custody suite, must meet the requirements of the safer detention guidance (including the need for proper clinical governance) and must deliver the service overall to quality and cost. The £13.5m budget had been regularly overspent with FMEs earning on average £77k per annum; one FME earned £279k. As of 12 January 50% of FMEs had signed the new contract and the remaining cover would be provided by an outsourced company within budget. The new system will see FMEs on duty rather than ‘on call’ and supported by nurses working in custody suites. The Chair asked the MPS to guarantee there would be no instruction to send prisoners to Accident and Emergency as had been alleged, and that efforts would be made to remedy the relationship with the FMEs.

Resolved – That the oral briefings be received.

47. Exclusion of Press and Public

(Agenda item 14)

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

Summary of exempt items

48. MPS gangs mediation

(Agenda item 15)

Members received a report proposing arrangements by which the MPS would introduce mediation services to help resolve conflict situations between gangs and individuals. Members agreed to the selection of a company as the organisation to provide mediation services and the award of a contract subject to the caveat that before it was signed, MPA officers scrutinise the contract, and that it contain safeguards in relation to monitoring and evaluation.

49. MPS response to the death of baby P

(Agenda item 16)

This report was received after agenda item 14, so it could be considered in the light of the ECM report (item 11). The report supplemented the information provided to the Committee in December 2008 and responded to questions raised then by members. Appendix 2 contained the action plan developed to address the areas for improvement identified in the HMIC inspection of child protection services in Haringey and the Joint Area Review of Haringey’s child protection services. It was agreed that a further briefing be arranged for interested members on issues arising from the report.

50. Urgent actions and authorisation for funding of legal representation and authorisation of requests for settlement of civil claims (if any)

(Agenda item 16)

No requests for urgent action or authorisation of funding were received.

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