Minutes

19 December 2000

Minutes of the meeting of the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee held at the Community House, Edmonton, London N9.

Present

Members

• R David Muir (Chair)
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair)
• Angela Slaven (Deputy Chair)
• Jennette Arnold
• Jenny Jones
• Nicholas Long
• Cecile Lothian

Reshard Auladin (MPA link member for Enfield) was also in attendance.

MPA staff

• Ian Gaskell (Deputy Clerk)
• Julia Smith

MPS staff

• L Owen (Community, Safety and Partnership - MPA)
• D Watson (Borough Commander, Enfield)

In addition, approximately 14 members of the press/public and other Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA)/Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) staff were present.

Part 1

48. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies were received from Abdal Ullah (Member - MPA), Catherine Crawford (Clerk - MPA), A Dunn (Assistant Commissioner – MPS), Peter Martin (Treasurer – MPA), Ann Wheeler (MPS).

49. Minutes: 28 November 2000

(Agenda item 2)

A Member's recollection of resolution 4 of agenda item 5 was not as recorded, however it was agreed that related matters had now moved forward and it was agreed that any misunderstanding need not be recorded. The minutes were therefore accepted.

Resolved:
the notes of the meeting held on 28 November 2000 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

50. Questions from the public

(Agenda item 3)

The comments, questions and replies are contained in Appendix 1 of the minutes.

Resolved:
that questions be received from the public for thirty minutes.

51. Chair's update

(Agenda item 4)

Members received a report, which presented a brief overview of current key MPA actions and initiatives that fell within the remit of the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach (CDO) committee. Committee Members were then invited to introduce themselves to those present and state what work they had been doing.

Resolved:
that the Chair's update be noted.

52. Equal opportunities statement for the MPA

(Agenda item 5)

The Human Resources and the CDO Committees had agreed that the MPA must adopt an equal opportunities statement. Members received a report, which provided an update of the latest position, together with revised draft equal opportunities statement for consideration.

Resolved:

1. the action taken by the working group be noted; and
2. the latest version of the MPA Statement be submitted to Human Resources Committee in January.

53. Community and race relations training for MPA members and staff

(Agenda item 6)

Members received a report that set out a number of proposals to provide Community and Race Relations (CRR) Training for MPA Members and staff. Members felt the paper lacked the costs of such training.

Members went on to consider the CRR training being provided to officers and staff of the MPS. It was noted that training was being provided under various existing arrangements across the MPS. It was felt that that a further paper should be provided evaluating this training, its impact on those being trained, and whether it met the recommendations made by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary (HMIC) in the report 'Winning Consent'. MPA officers undertook to provide an interim paper in February, with a fuller paper to follow at a later date. Members asked that a decision on training for MPA Members and staff be made following receipt of the interim paper.

Resolved:

1. the CDO Committee would receive an interim report evaluating CRR training (it would also include information about the MPS implementation of the HMIC recommendations on CRR training) in February; a fuller report would be received by the CDO Committee in March or at a later date;
2. no CRR training for MPA Members would be provided until after the production of an interim report; and
3. the cost of training would be included in a further report.

[Secretary's note:
the Clerk has since decided that CRR training for staff should be undertaken as soon as possible, a needs analysis for MPA staff would therefore be undertaken by the MPS during January 2001;
the Chair will ask Cindy Butts to assist in the evaluation of MPS CRR training]

54. Status report on best value review on consultation

(Agenda item 7)

Members received a report that asked them to consider the report on the best value review of consultation recently deferred by the full Authority meeting, as not all Members had had a reasonable period of time to consider the complex subject. Its key recommendations would allow the MPA to fulfil its statutory responsibility to ensure Londoners were adequately consulted and their views reflected in the policing plan. Some of the key bodies in this process were the PCCGs, however the review had found that they varied a lot in effectiveness and it was recommended that the MPA assume responsibility for their constitution, funding and administration. Some PCCGs had shown considerable concern about the proposed changes. Members emphasised that the MPA had a clear responsibility for ensuring effective consultation with all parts of the community, including those that are particularly difficult to engage. The purpose of the proposed strategy was to raise the standard of consultation to a satisfactory level across London. Members emphasised the importance of maintaining effective local autonomy within the strategic framework.

It was agreed that the recommendations in the full Authority report be agreed in principle and that a workshop on the consultation strategy would be held in January for all Members. A briefing and discussion of proposals with existing PCCG administrators would be arranged, if and when, the strategy proposals had been confirmed.

Resolved:

1. the recommendations in the deferred full Authority report on the best value review of consultation be agreed in principle;
2. a workshop on the consultation strategy be held in January for all Members, (before paper went again to the Full Authority in February); and
3. a briefing and discussion of proposals with existing PCCG administrators be arranged to discuss potential employment implications of the recommendations, if and when, the strategy proposals have been confirmed.

55. Consultation strategy – case for implementation manager

(Agenda item 8)

Members received a report that made the case for recruiting a policy level officer to be responsible for managing the implementation of the consultation strategy on behalf of the MPA. They were informed that the Implementation Manager would be replacing an existing post and that the budget for the post had been agreed. A case for supporting staff would be made in due course. The recommendations contained in the paper were agreed. The Chair extended his thanks to Sultan Taylor, Jude Sequeira and Enid Ledgister from the MPA and Lisa Bailey and Colin Searle from the MPS for their work on best value.

Resolved:

1. the recruitment of a consultation strategy implementation manager be authorised; and
2. an interim implementation manager be seconded until a permanent position could be filled.

56. Crime and disorder partnerships

(Agenda item 9)

Members received a report informing them of the developments that were underway on Crime and Disorder Partnerships, and sought their endorsement for the proposals outlined.

Angela Slaven volunteered to represent the MPA on the MPS Joint Steering Group on Crime and Disorder, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner.

Members felt there was a need to involve local authority elected Members, health providers, etc. in local Crime and Disorder strategies and it was recognised that there was no uniformity in how each partnership worked. The Members agreed the formation of a small working group should be sought. Angela Slaven, Cindy Butts, Cecile Lothian and R. David Muir were nominated from the CDO. It was agreed that a representative from both the Professional Standards and Performance Monitoring (PSPM) and Finance Planning and Best Value Committees (FPBV) should also be sought to give direction to this area of work.

Resolved:

1. a small working group (its membership to include Angela Slaven, Cindy Butts, Cecile Lothian and R. David Muir, and nominees from the PSPM or FPBV) be formed to give direction to this area of work;
2. the membership of the working group and its terms of reference be presented to the Chair's Co-ordination and Urgency Committee in January;
3. the actions proposed in paragraph 6 of the report, and any subsequent actions required to progress them, be endorsed;
4. Angela Slaven would represent the MPA on the Joint Steering Group; and
5. further actions arising out of the workshop of 11 December be approved.

57. Lay visiting – progress report

(Agenda item 10)

A report was received which informed and updated members on the actions taken to progress the MPA's work in Lay Visiting. The Committee agreed that two members would advise and work with MPA officers when dealing with interim Lay Visiting matters. Unfortunately, one was now unable to undertake this role, and the remaining member, Cecile Lothian, felt that it was inappropriate for her to carry on with this role alone. She suggested that Richard Sumray and Elizabeth Howlett might join her, if they were agreeable.

The report also contained the initial analysis of the responses received to the consultation questionnaires. The final response would be presented at the January meeting of the CDO Committee.

Resolved:

1. Richard Sumray and Elizabeth Howlett be approached to become Members willing to offer guidance and advice to officers on interim Lay Visiting matters;
2. the Initial analysis of questionnaires on the Home Office guidelines be noted, a final response to be submitted to the January meeting; and
3. the proposals for recruiting the Lay Visiting Review officer be noted.

58. GLA crime and community safety policy commission

(Agenda item 11)

The Mayor's Crime and Community Safety Policy Commission had produced a draft consultation paper, outlining the Mayor's vision for Crime and Community Safety in London, including the eight key objectives that underpinned the rationale for the Mayor's responsibility in this area. Members received a report asking them to consider these proposals. It was agreed that a meeting be sought with the authorities involved in crime and disorder to establish a joint way forward, at which the MPA's interest would be represented by Jennette Arnold and Cecile Lothian. Members, with MPA officers, would agree a response to the consultation paper in due course.

Resolved:

1. a meeting be sought with authorities involved in crime and disorder to establish a joint way forward;
2. the MPA's interest at the meeting proposed above be represented by Jennette Arnold and Cecile Lothian;
3. members, with MPA officers, to agree a response to the consultation paper from the Mayor's Commission.

The meeting finished at 12.30pm.

Appendix 1: Questions from the public

(Agenda item 3)

The Chair, in accordance with procedural Standing Order 33, invited questions from members of the public. It was noted that an allocation of thirty minutes would be made for this item. The following questions and comments were put to the Committee:

(a) The Chair of the local PCCG described its work.

Enfield PCCG had been mentioned for its good practice in the Macpherson report. It funded a Racial Incident Action Group (RIAG) that met monthly. With the police it considered follow up action on every racial incident in the borough. The PCCG was now trying actively to involve youth in its work by including them in management groups and had made great efforts to involve disabled people. Its meetings were advertised in the local press and letters were sent to all interested groups. She was concerned that local Councillors would be non-voting members and could not take Honorary Officer positions*.

[*Secretary's note:
This may represent a misunderstanding. Councillors may, as individuals, be full voting members of PCCG's. They cannot however vote if they are there as Councillors.)]

The Chair finished by stating that she did not want this good practice lost due to precipitate changes to the running of PCCGs.

(b) Concern was expressed by a local resident about the crime, vandalism, and racial harassment caused by youths in Edmonton (part of the London borough of Enfield), and asked how the MPA would prevent youth crime.

He was told that the MPA was not responsible for operational matters, which were the province of the MPS. However the MPA was engaged in a number of London-wide initiatives, involving many agencies, where the diversion of youth from crime was high on the agenda.

The Borough Commander stated that Enfield was one of the safest London boroughs, and that there had recently been a re-launch of the campaign to encourage the reporting of racial crime. Sector teams, in liaison with Community Safety Officers were also used to combat racial crime. He added Enfield was the only borough where police visited every school, including junior schools.

(c) The Chair of a London PCCG asked if the implementation of the consultation strategy should be deferred until the job description for the proposed Consultation Liaison Officer had been agreed.

It was noted that a draft job description was already included in the Best Value Review of Consultation Report.

(d) A sixth former from an Enfield school stated that she had been shocked by the number of posters relating to murders outside the local police station, and added that she had only once seen a police officer in her school.

The Borough Commander stated that the murders referred to in the posters mostly happened outside the borough.

He expressed surprised at the apparent lack of school visits to her school, as it was his aim that every school should receive a visit each term, the school permitting. He would check on this outside the meeting. The questioner was informed that the volunteer cadet scheme for young people over 16, was being extended throughout London, and that Enfield had 44 such cadets.

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