Race Relations (Amendment) Act – work in progress by the MPS

Report: 13
Date: 14 March 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

This paper outlines work in progress by the MPS towards introducing the MPS Race Equality Scheme so as to meet the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act.

A. Recommendation

Members are asked to note:

1. the progress towards preparing the MPS Race Equality Scheme; and
2. that formal comments on the Action Plan from the MPA's Race Relations (Amendment) Act Working Group are awaited.

B. Supporting information

1. Significant progress has been made by the MPS in meeting the obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. This work has taken into account the draft Code of Practice issued by the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) in December. The progress is outlined below.

2. The MPS Steering Committee (SC), upon which the MPA is represented at officer level (Julia Smith, Alan Johnson), has met five times. The SC, chaired by Detective Chief Superintendent Lovelock, reports progress to the Deputy Commissioner through the Diversity Strategy Board.

3. Continual progress is ensured through the work of the four dedicated staff who support the SC. The SC and supporting staff are working towards the publication of a detailed Action Plan and Race Equality Scheme.

4. The Action Plan has been favourably received by the CRE who are appreciative of the effort made by the MPS to anticipate the legislation and code, in order to be in a strong position to meet the requirements of the Act. The Action Plan was also presented to the ACPO Community and Race Relations Portfolio meeting on 13 February. In recognition of the comprehensive nature of the plan, and in the knowledge of the praise by the CRE, ACPO requested that the Action Plan be used as the national guide for other forces. A template for that purpose is now being prepared.

5. Drafting of the Race Equality Scheme itself will commence in mid February to allow for consultation prior to 31 May. The Action Plan will form an annex to the Scheme, and as such will be the open representation of activity by the MPS to meet the strategic and tactical arrangements laid out in the Scheme.

6. It is the aim of the SC to complete the draft Race Equality Scheme in time for the meeting of the Diversity Strategy Board on 7 March. External consultation on the Scheme will occur on 13 March at a meeting of Race Equality Councils, hosted by the CRE. Both the MPS and MPA will be in attendance, after which the Scheme will be presented to the Diversity Forum on 21st March.

7. The MPS is in the process of identifying and prioritising its functions and policies. In assessing their relevance to the "general duty" under the Act, the MPS will make use of existing mechanisms of inspection and review and Best Value reviews. However, where these mechanisms do not meet the requirements of the Act in the first instance, specific reviews will be undertaken.

8. The MPS has progressed towards the development of a 'health check' for proportionality in service delivery at Operational Command Unit and corporate level. A model has been proposed and is currently being considered by the Diversity Strategy Board. The requirements of monitoring for adverse impact are likely to be met by this model.

9. Further consideration is being given to the requirements under the Act to consult upon proposed policies. Existing measures are being reviewed and will be altered or augmented in line with the guidance in the Code. The MPS will continue to consider methods by which the development of the Scheme itself can be consulted upon, and would welcome an opportunity to consult jointly with the MPA.

10. The specific duties on employment are already met in significant areas, such as monitoring of staff. Arrangements are being put in place to monitor the other activities required, together with the need to analyse the information, act upon it and publish it annually. Within the Human Resources Directorate, a sub group of the SC has been formed specifically to address these issues.

11. Formal MPS response to the draft Codes of Practice published by the CRE on 3 December is to be submitted to the CRE by 25 February.

12. The MPS will provide updates on progress for the MPA through the CDO Committee as requested. This will be complemented through our mutual membership of SC/working groups.

13. This progress and the MPS Diversity Strategy has demonstrated that many areas around service delivery, consultation and employment have already been addressed.

C. Financial implications

The costs of the work outlined above are being contained within previously agreed budgets.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

Report author: Frances Smith & Dave Osborn, MPS.

For information contact:

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

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