Report on the sub-committees of strategic and operational policing committee

Report: 12
Date: 3 December 2009
By: Chief Executive

Summary

This report contains a summary of reports received by the sub-committees of Strategic and Operational Policing Committee.

A. Recommendation

That the report be received.

B. Supporting information

1. At each meeting of the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee Authority members will receive a report on its sub-committees instead of the minutes. Part 1 minutes will be available on the website, and exempt part 2 minutes are available to members only, on request.

2. This report covers the following meeting:

• Counter-Terrorism and Protective Services Sub-Committee – 7 September 2009
• Professional Standards Cases Sub-Committee - 24 September 2009
• Professional Standards Cases sub-committee - 12 October 2009.

The minutes for the meeting of the Olympic/Paralympic sub-committee on 15 October have not yet been completed.

Counter-Terrorism and Protective Services Sub-Committee - 7 September 2009

Performance update – protect

3. The DAC, SO, introduced a report stating that PROTECT was one of the four strands of the MPS counter-terrorist strategy which dealt with stopping terrorist attacks. The DAC, SO highlighted the ongoing discussion with the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) about full cost recovery for protecting high level members of the Government, visiting heads of state and others in need of armed protection.

SO17 - palace of Westminster – oral update (exempt)

4. An oral update on SO17, Palace of Westminster, was provided by the BOCU Cdr. He explained how the MPS was contracted to provide security within the Palace of Westminster and spoke of the challenges of providing security in a place where 8,000 people worked and visited by 1.4 million.

SO18 Aviation – oral update (exempt)

5. The OCU Cdr SO18 – Aviation, gave an oral presentation to the sub-committee on his work in protecting travellers and staff at London City and Heathrow airports.

Specialist Operations financial management information – based on actual spend to July 2009 (exempt)

6. The sub-committee received Specialist Operations financial management information based on actual spends to the end of July 2009. The appendix provided an overview of Specialist Operations and MPS Counter Terrorism Grant budget spends and forecast at the end of July 2009. At the end of July 2009 SO was forecasting a bottom line overspend for 2009/10 of £1,048k.

Specialist Operations Management Information (exempt)

7. The sub-committee received a report providing an update on Specialist Operations performance against performance plan targets 2009/10 for the period June-July 2009. Members reviewed the targets that not been met.

Professional Standards Cases sub-committee- 24 September 2009

Update on an ACPO conduct matter (exempt)

8. The sub-committee considered a report in relation to an ACPO conduct matter.

Police Pensions Regulations 1987 - application for a certificate of forfeiture (exempt)

9. It was resolved to apply to the Home Secretary for a certificate of forfeiture under the Police Regulations 1987.

Police Pensions Regulations 1987 – forfeiture stage (exempt)

10. It was resolved that a permanent 40% forfeiture of pension should be imposed.

Complaint against ACPO officers (exempt)

11. It was agreed to receive a deputation from the complainant.

Complaint against an unknown ACPO officer (exempt)

12. It was resolved that the allegation did constitute a complaint but not a recordable conduct matter.

Complaint against an ACPO officer (exempt)

13. The sub-committee determined not to record the complaints. The matter would be referred to the MPS so it could considered whether there was any misconduct by a non-ACPO rank officer in failing to response to the complaints letter.

Complaint against an ACPO officer (exempt)

14. It was resolved that the MPS was the appropriate authority to consider the complaint and it was agreed to the IPCC for a dispensation on the grounds that without good reason there was more than 12 months between the incident and the complaint being brought, and that it was not reasonably practicable to complete the investigation given that ACPO officer had retired.

Complaint against ACPO officers (exempt)

15. It was agreed that the general duty to respond to all correspondence directly was too remote to be considered a personal conduct matter under the Police Reform Act 2002.

Complaint against ACPO officers (exempt)

16. It was agreed that the that the allegation against officer was not a personal conduct matter as the general duty to respond to all correspondence directly was too remote to be considered personal conduct. It was also agreed to apply to the IPCC for a dispensation on the grounds that it was not reasonably practicable to complete the investigation due to the resignation of the officers.

Update on ACPO complaints and conduct matters – decisions taken under delegated authority (exempt)

17. The sub-committee was advised that in accordance with the MPA’s Scheme of Delegation, powers delegated to officers in order to avoid undue delay the Chief Executive/Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair of the Professional Standards Cases Sub-Committee might decide whether or not to record complaints and conduct matters concerning MPA senior officers. This report summarised the complaints and conduct matters which had been considered under delegated authority and the recording decision taken.

Undated in relation to a former ACPO officer (exempt)

18. It was resolved to refer the matter to the Corporate Governance Committee for further consideration, recommendations and organisational learning.

Professional Standards Cases sub-committee - 12 October 2009

Dip sampling of complaints

19. The sub-committee was advised that the MPA was required to sample closed complaints files to ensure public confidence in the complaints procedure. The report contained a draft protocol which was approved.

Complaint against ACPO officer (exempt)

20. In two separate cases it was resolved that the general duty to respond to all correspondence directly was too remote to be considered a personal conduct matter.

Update on ACPO conduct matters in relation to an ACPO officer (exempt)

21. The report was noted.

Complaint against ACPO officers (exempt)

22. On the evidence before it the sub-committee determined that the allegations were a complaint and did constitute a personal conduct matte, it was agreed to record the complaint and refer the complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Complaint against ACPO officers (exempt)

23. The sub-committee determined that the allegation against the officers were not personal conduct matters but a matters of direction and control.

ACPO complaints/conduct matters active matters - 08 October 2009 (exempt)

24. A report was circulated updating members on the status of current ACPO complaints /conduct matters.

25. Copies of non exempt reports and minutes from the Authority and its committees can be viewed on the MPA website, or obtained from MPA Committee Services team.

C. Race and equality impact

There are no race and diversity impact issues directly arising from this report. Race and diversity impact is a standing item on reports submitted to committees and sub-committees.

D. Financial implications

There are no financial implications directly arising from this report although there could be financial implications arising from items discussed by sub-committees.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Ruth Hastings Iqball, MPA

For information contact:

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

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