Minutes

Minutes of the Consultation Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 13 May 2004 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Cindy Butts (Chair)
• Kirsten Hearn
• Peter Herbert (items 5-11)
• Noel Lynch

Co-opted members

• Sandra Flower (Chair, London PCCG Forum)
• Kate Monkhouse (Director, London Civic Forum)

MPA officers

• Chris Calnan (Community Engagement)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Services)
• Ken Hunt (Deputy Treasurer)
• Tim Rees (Head of Community Engagement)
• David Riddle (Deputy Clerk)

MPS officers

• Chas Bailey (Superintendent, Consultation Manager)
• Richard Bryan (DAC, Strategic Planning) (items 1-5)
• Nick Crouch, (Directorate of Information)
• Steve Farquharson (Group Director, Directorate of Information)
• Ian Jenkins (Chief Inspector, Territorial Policing)
• Steve Lovelock (Det Chief Supt, Specialist Crime)
• David Page (Internal Consultancy Group)
• Jane Wilkin (Consultation Officer)

Co-opted members: Sandra Flower (Chair, London PCCG Forum) and Kate Monkhouse (Director, London Civic Forum)

In attendance: Richard Barnes, (member) (item 1 - 8).

Part 1

32. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies were received from Abdal Ullah. Members were informed that the co-opted member, Jane Simpson, Head of Youth Service, Peabody Trust had resigned from the committee. It was requested that a letter expressing the committee’s thanks be sent to her. It was noted that Tim Rees had been appointed Head of Community Engagement.

33. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

34. Minutes of the Consultation Committee – 18 March 2003

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2004. Sandra Flower noted that the minutes had not recorded that she had informed members that the figures in the report at agenda item 6, ‘Funding for Community and Police Consultative Groups 2004-05’ had not been amended to reflect successful appeals for funding in 2003-4.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2004 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

35. Chair and members oral update

(Agenda item 4)

No oral updates were received.

36. Presentation from Mick Farrant, Chair of the Independent Custody Visitors’ Panel on immigration detainees in police custody suites

(Agenda item 5)

Mick Farrant, chair of the Camden Independent Custody Visitors Panel (ICVP) gave a presentation on the numbers and length of time immigration detainees were held in MPS police cells on behalf of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND). A paper by Mick Farrant was also circulated on the subject.

Mick Farrant reported that between 1 November 2003 to 20 March 2004, 22 or 68% immigration detainees were in custody in Camden for more than the 36 hours permitted for ordinary prisoners under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. Members were informed that the immigration detainees were in custody for variety of reasons – arrested for crime, then found to have suspect immigration status, arrested at the immigration centre, picked up as a vagrant, or served an IS91 and awaiting a plane for deportation. Custody suites were unsuitable for long-term occupancy, as they no natural light, few exercise facilities, it was not always possible to provide showers and changes of clothing and there was a lack of facilities for visitors. Mick Farrant also raised the problem of lack of access to belongings and bank accounts by detainees awaiting immediate deportation. He felt the immigration detainees compromised the efficiency of custody officers; as they had to deal with prisoners on a long-term basis, liaise with immigration officers and the IND’s privatised transport suppliers and because of the grey area of who was ultimately responsible for immigration detainees.

Members were informed that the MPS’s Internal Consultancy Group had completed an efficiency review of custody capacity, which was part of the MPA Best Value programme and would be presented to the Performance and Review Committee in July. The Report would include a more comprehensive analysis of the issue and a package of recommendations for addressing it. After discussion, there was a strong wish on the part of Members of the Committee to make urgent representations to the IND and the Home Secretary. The Chair suggested that a report be presented to the full Authority on 27 May, to obtain the endorsement and ownership of the issue by the full Authority. It was noted that the report would be short because of time constraints.

Resolved – that a report be prepared for the next full Authority on the issues raised in the presentation and subsequent discussion.

37. Progress report on CPCG funding for 2004/05

(Agenda item 6)

Members received a report summarising the progress being made in implementing the funding arrangements for Community Police Consultative Groups (CPCGs) for 2004/05 outlined in the report received at the last Consultation Committee. Members were informed that letters of understanding had been received from 18 of the 27 groups to which they had been sent. Six CPCGs were appealing against the funding decisions made by the Committee. The appeals panel would be meeting on 24 May.

For CPCGs with no funding, officers were working with Barking and Dagenham and Havering to clarify their appeals. New consultation models were being developed in Islington, Greenwich and Hammersmith and Fulham. Of the band 3 CPCGs, given funding for three months, contact had been established with Croydon, Ealing, Lambeth and Hackney. Of the band 2 CPCGs, given funding for six months, contact had been established with Camden, Bexley, Brent, Enfield, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Wandsworth.

MPA officers had also met representatives of the London Chair’s Forum on 27 April. It had been agreed that the Forum would establish the CPCGs’ training and development needs, and participate in the Best Practise Guide Working Group. Sandra Flower welcomed the strategic role for the Forum, but wished members to note that it had only two days secretarial support

Resolved – That

1. the Committee note the progress being made on the implementation of funding arrangements for CPCGs for 2004/05; and
2. receive a further progress report at its next meeting.

38. Measuring community consultation – results, next steps and linked work

(Agenda item 7)

A report was received summarising the results of the recent MPS Measuring Community Consultation survey. It set out how the MPS aimed to address the findings and how this linked with current developmental work. Members were informed that a pilot course for consultation practitioners was being held the next day, and that Tim Rees would be participating in the first course. The course would contain tools and techniques for reaching hard to hear groups. The MPS was thanked for work.

Resolved – That

1. members note the results of the measuring community consultation survey; and
2. endorse the plan of action outlined in the report.

39. e-Policing consultation

(Agenda item 8)

Members received a report outlining the MPS position in respect of the development and delivery of citizen focussed electronic services. The MPS was asked what was being done to make the MPS website more accessible, especially to the disabled and those for whom English was not their first language. Members were informed that since the last Consultation Committee, the Directorate of Information had formed a team to look at the website’s accessibility and address any problems. The Chair felt the report should have contained an evaluation of the take up and benefit of the existing e-policing initiatives. A further report on the subject was requested at the end of the year.

Resolved – That

1. members note the current position in respect of delivery of electronic services; and
2. a further report be received at the end of the year

40. Metropolitan Police youth strategy

(Agenda item 9)

Members received a report providing feedback from the MPS Strategic Committee on the Youth Strategy, action plan and policies. It particularly concentrated on the consultation routes that had been used. Members were informed that since March 2003, the MPS’s Strategic Committee had reviewed the 53 youth policies in line with their fitness for purpose and MPS priorities and reduced the number to 17. These 17 had been clustered into five key areas, information exchange, youth justice, youth and community safety, anti social behaviour and incidents in schools. Members were informed that there was an Independent Advisory Group for youth matters, based on access to 300 youths within 18 key areas. The MPS also had 750 police cadets, half of which were female, and 54% from visible ethnic minorities. The MPS undertook to liase with Kirsten Hearn on issues relating to further contact with and issues relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and disabled youth.

Resolved – That members note this report.

41. Update on knowledge forums

(Agenda item 10)

Members received a report updating them on actions arising from the Capital Crime Conference 2003; particularly relating to Knowledge Forums. Members were informed that nine Knowledge Forums, (monthly meetings with community, business leaders and stakeholders at New Scotland Yard about specialist crime issues) had so far been held. Audiences had consisted of between 22 and 42 people and feedback had been positive. Members were informed that presentations on Operation Maxim would be taken out to boroughs to forge links with London’s new communities.

Members were also informed that Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur has given a presentation to all but eight London CPCGs on the work of the Specialist Crime Directorate. Members felt groups, other than CPCGs, should receive the presentation. The Chair was pleased to note the positive outcomes from the Capital Crime Conference 2003, as Committee members had been very concerned about its cost when a report had first been received on the subject.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

42. Annual report to Consultation Committee

(Agenda item 11)

A report was received summarising the key issues addressed by the Consultation Committee over the last year, its accomplishments and some of the challenges it will need to address in the future. Sandra Flower reiterated her request that CPCG Chair’s Forum have twice-yearly formal meetings with the MPA over and above the proposed presentation to a committee meeting. The Chair thanked the co-opted members for their contribution over the last year.

Resolved – That the committee adopt the report.

The meeting ended at 12.00 noon

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback