Minutes

15 November 2001

Minutes of the meeting of the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee held at Carshalton College, Nightingale Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 2EJ.

Present

Members

• R. David Muir (Chair)
• Abdal Ullah (Deputy Chair)
• Jennette Arnold
• Nicholas Long
• Cecile Lothian
• Angela Slaven

Also present: Graham Tope (MPA link member for Sutton).

MPA staff

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Julia Smith (Policy Officer, CDO)
• John Crompton (Secretariat)

MPS staff

• Steve Macdonald (Borough Commander, Sutton)
• Cressida Dick (Commander, Diversity).

In addition approximately 35 members of the press/public and other Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA)/Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) staff were present.

Part 1

29. Welcome to the meeting

(Agenda item 1)

The Clerk welcomed members of the public to the meeting and provided a brief outline of the work of the MPA.

30. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 2)

Apologies for absence were received from Cindy Butts and Jennifer Jones.

31. Minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2001

(Agenda item 3)

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2001 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

32. Chair and Link Members' update.

(Agenda item 4)

The Chair reported on several current issues relating to the work of the Committee. He reported that the Virdi Report was due to be published in December and that he had been appointed to the Home Secretary's Stephen Lawrence Steering Group. Other members also reported on their recent MPA activities.

Resolved - That the information be noted.

33. Progress report on CDO performance sub group

(Agenda item 5)

Members received a report to update them about the activities of the CDO Performance Sub-Group.

Resolved- That

1. the work of the sub-group and future meeting dates be noted;
2. the MPA participate in the GLA conference on "London schools and the black child" subject to agreement on the costs involved. Cecile Lothian to be the lead MPA member for the conference; and
3. the sub-group's request that urgent attention be given to progressing the review of the MPS CRR training programme be noted.

34. Progress report on Race Hate Crimes Working Group

(Agenda item 6)

The working group was established to progress the recommendations in a report on race hate crimes considered earlier in the year. A progress report was submitted.

The Policy Officer CDO reported that the Chair of the working group would be making representations on the Emergency Anti-Terrorism Bill

Members suggested that representatives of Youth Offending Teams and the Muslim Council of Britain should be added to the list of invitees.

Resolved - That

1. the progress in the work carried out by the group be noted; and
2. the draft plans for seminars be noted.

35. Deaths in Police custody

(Agenda item 7)

A report was submitted which outlined how the MPS responds to and investigates deaths in police custody. The report had previously been considered by the Professional Standards and Performance Monitoring Committee at its meeting on 11 October.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

36. Community reassurance post 11 September

(Agenda item 8)

A report was submitted which updated Members on the action taken by the MPS to reassure communities in London following the terrorist attacks on 11 September.

Abdal Ullah and other members said that the feedback received from their link boroughs was that members of the Muslim community were very appreciative of the reassurance work carried out by the police.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

37. Emergency communications strategy

(Agenda item 9)

A report was submitted which outlined the communications strategy to be adopted in the event of an emergency or terrorist attack in London.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

38. MPS Diversity Strategy Action Plan

(Agenda item 10)

A report was considered which updated the Committee on the work being undertaken on the diversity strategy.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

39. MPS Diversity Training: CRR Programme

(Agenda item 11)

A report was considered on community and relations training programme.

Referring to the second recommendation in the report the Chair reminded the Committee that Cindy Butts was already a member of the Diversity Co-ordination Forum.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. Cindy Butts be appointed to the Diversity Co-ordination Forum Training Panel.

40. Progress report on the GLA Best Value Review of Equalities

(Agenda item 12)

The Greater London Authority and its functional bodies have set up a best value review of equalities has been set up. A report was submitted which sets out details of the baseline analysis and a challenge event.

Resolved - That the report, including the proposed internal consultation, be noted.

41. Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

(Agenda item 13)

A report was submitted which outlined the initial issues identified in producing a race equality scheme in compliance with the Race Relations Amendment Act.

The Policy Officer, CDO reported that it had now been established that separate schemes would be required for the MPA and MPS. It would therefore be necessary to submit a revised report to the next meeting of the Committee. In the circumstances, she would ask the Committee to note the current report.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

25. Stop and Search – training programme

(Agenda item 14)

A report was submitted which provided an update on the current situation with regard to stop and search training within the MPS.

Commander Dick reported that it has been necessary for the training programme to be suspended in some boroughs following 11 September in the light of increased commitment to provide officers for security patrols.

It was noted that Cindy Butts had some submitted some points on this report and these would be raised with the MPS

Resolved - That the report be noted.

25. HMIC report – Winning the Race: embracing diversity

(Agenda item 15)

A report was considered which set out the means by which progress on the implementation of the eight recommendations in the HMIC report had been implemented.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. a further report be submitted to a future meeting setting out a timetable and progress made on the Performance Indicators.

25. Monitoring of MPA staffing and recruitment

(Agenda item 16)

The Committee considered a report, which provided monitoring, and analysis by gender and ethnic origin of the recruitment exercises in the MPA. The report had previously been considered by the Human Resources Committee at its meeting on 1 November.

The Chair commented that the where there was a lack of consistency between the descriptions of the groups in the body of the report compared with the appendix. The descriptions in the appendix were the ones that should be used in future reports.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

25. MPS domestic violence strategy

(Agenda item 17)

The MPS is due to launch its domestic violence strategy in December 2001. The strategy has been developed in consultation with a range of organisations through the Domestic Violence Working Group.

Jennette Arnold spoke about the Mayor's initiatives in this field. She would suggest that the MPA should produce a response to the MPS strategy say within the next six months.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

27. Presentation on research into domestic violence

(Agenda item 18)

Debbie Crisp gave a presentation on research currently being carried out into domestic violence across London.

28. Questions and comments from the public

(Agenda item 19)

These are contained in appendix 1

The meeting finished at 8.40 p.m.

Appendix 1

A. Comments and questions on business discussed

(i) The MPS should ensure that its domestic violence strategy fits in with other strategies.

(ii) What further work is there to do on research into domestic violence?

There is work to be done around the reasons for the continued high level of under-reporting in this field

iii) I wish to draw attention to the problems that can be faced by people with a disability or impairment. They can be the subject of verbal and even physical abuse when merely going about their everyday business and I would like to know what policies are in place that cover this.

Commander Dick explained that as stated in the report on the agenda at tonight's meeting the scope of the MPS diversity strategy was to be expanded and disability would be high amongst the priorities of the wider strategy.

Angela Slaven said that in her opinion such activities amounted to hate crimes and should be dealt with accordingly.

(iv) Have members of the Authority had any direct involvement with the community reassurance work carried out since 11 September?

The Chair confirmed that members were monitoring events closely

B. Comments and questions on other issues

(v) Are you aware that this meeting has been arranged for the evening before the start of Ramadan? This means that members of the Muslin community are effectively prevented from coming here, as they are required to attend prayers. Also, Divali is being celebrated tonight in some parts of London. Can you give an assurance that no future MPA meetings will conflict with religious festivals?

Abdal Ullah explained that as a Muslim he was aware of the obligations on members of that faith group. When arrangements had been made for the meeting, it was believed that Ramadan would start on the 17th of the month. Abdal also drew attention to the fact that information about religious festivals had been sent to all police stations. The Chair confirmed that the point raised about MPA meetings avoiding clashes with religious festivals had been noted.

(vi) My son was injured by a police officer in London in 1996 when he was 16. The MPS have said that they cannot take action against the officer involved because it was not possible to identify an individual officer from the evidence available. What avenues are available to me to pursue this matter?

The Clerk explained that the MPA had no jurisdiction over the police over the investigation of any individual incident or individual complaint. Members were, however, anxious to be made aware of processes that did not appear to be meeting the needs of the public. She would therefore suggest that the questioner make an appointment to discuss the matter with the Chair of the Authority.

(vii) Graffiti is a big problem locally and there are other forms of anti-social behaviour being carried out by young people. Do the police have any programmes for advising school children that anti social behaviour is not acceptable? Is there any evidence of any change in behaviour because of such programmes?

The Borough Commander said that the police did work in schools to advise year 3 and 4 children of situations that may be dangerous to them. Older pupils were given information on alcohol and drugs. A package was currently being worked on as part of work on citizenship.

The Chair added that work with schools was very important which was why the Performance Sub-group of this Committee would be considering ways in which links between the agencies involved could be improved.

Jennette Arnold informed the meeting that the Greater London Authority was due to start a scrutiny of the graffiti problem chaired by Andrew Pelling.

With regard to other interventions in this field, Angela Slaven outlined the work of anti-social behaviour teams and the system of acceptable behaviour contracts which were used in Islington and Cecile Lothian reported that the removal of graffiti was sometimes required as part of community service orders.

(viii) Whilst the numbers of people stop and searched in Sutton may be low when compared with some other parts of London the problem of disproportionably is still relevant in the borough. The way in which stop and searches are carried out can leave a lasting adverse impression of the police by members of ethnic minorities.

The Borough Commander invited the questioner to attend the next training session for officers in Sutton. This would enable her to see at first hand the training given and there would be an opportunity to raise her concerns directly with the officers.

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