Chair's update

Report: 4*
Date: 26 September 2000
By: Chair

*Please note that this is an amended version of Report 4 and supersedes version 1 as distributed with the Agenda

Summary

This report presents a brief overview of current key MPA actions and initiatives that fall within the remit of the CDO committee.

A. Supporting information

Notting Hill Carnival

One of the Deputy Chairs of the CDO, Cindy Butts, met Clair Holder, Chief Executive of the Notting Hill Carnival Trust on Monday 11 September to discuss the Trust's perspective on the events during and following the carnival. The MPA was the first national organisation to meet directly with the Trust. Ms Holder praised the cooperation that the event organisers had received from the MPS.

I have formally written to the families of the murdered victims to offer condolences, on behalf of the MPA.

The Mayor has commissioned a review of the carnival, in light of the tragic murders during the event. Lee Jasper, Special Adviser to the Mayor on Equalities, will chair this review. Nicholas Long, who is a member of the CDO Committee, will represent the MPA on the Review panel.

Lawrence status report

At its meeting on 28 July, the MPA formally authorised the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir John Stevens, to enter into negotiations with Mr and Mrs Lawrence in order to reach an urgent settlement of their legal actions against the MPS, following the racist murder of their son Stephen Lawrence.

The proposed offer was not acceptable to Mr and Mrs Lawrence, and their legal advisers are continuing negotiations with the Commissioner. I am sure we would all hope to see a speedy and satisfactory resolution to this matter.

Gurpal Virdi status report

Sergeant Gurpal Virdi, a Sikh officer with over seventeen years' service with the Metropolitan Police Service, was arrested in April 1998 on suspicion of having distributed racist literature. He was subsequently charged with fourteen discipline counts and appeared before a Police Disciplinary Tribunal in February/March 2000. He was unanimously found guilty on all counts and was dismissed. He is currently appealing against that decision through the disciplinary appeals process.

In a parallel development, Mr Virdi went to the Employment Tribunal and lodged an application, alleging racial discrimination. He lodged a second Employment Tribunal application alleging that the manner in which the disciplinary hearing was conducted was discriminatory on racial grounds. An Employment Tribunal heard the substantive part of the first claim and on 23 August delivered its finding that the MPS had discriminated against him. It has been agreed that an inquiry/review should be set up under the auspices of the MPA. I will chair it. The membership and terms of reference of the inquiry are still under consideration. The matter has been considered by both the Coordination and Urgency Committee (on 31 August) and the full Authority (on 14 September).

A public announcement will be made when the members of the Panel are agreed.

B. Recommendation

That members note the developments in this report.

C. Financial implications

There are no new financial implications to this report.

D. Review arrangements

I will give a regular Chair's update report to each CDO meeting.

E. Background papers

The following is a statutory list of background papers (under the Local Government Act 1972 S.100 D) which disclose facts or matters on which the report is based and which have been relied on to a material extent in preparing this report. They are available on request to either the contact officer listed above or to the Clerk to the Police Authority at the address indicated on the agenda.

F. Contact details

The author of this report is Julia Smith, MPA.

For information contact:

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

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