Minutes

Minutes of the Community Engagement Committee held on 16 June 2005 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Abdal Ullah (Chair)
• Aneeta Prem (Deputy Chair)
• Kirsten Hearn
• Damian Hockney
• Jenny Jones
• John Roberts
• Reshard Auladin
• Tony Arbour attended for consideration of items 1- 4 and 7
• Elizabeth Howlett attended for consideration of items 1- 4 and 7
• Rachel Whittaker attended for consideration of items 1- 4 and 7

MPA officers

• David Riddle (Deputy Clerk)
• Tim Rees (Head of Community Engagement Unit)
• Elizabeth Turner (Management Accountant)
• Chris Calnan (Community Engagement Unit)
• John May (Community Engagement Unit)
• Asfa Malik (Community Engagement Unit)
• John Crompton( Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Richard Bryan (DAC, Planning and Performance)
• Commander Sue Wilkinson
• Commander James Smith Ian Harrison
• Steve Bending

53. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

An apology for absence was received from Nicky Gavron.

54. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations were received.

55. Minutes: 3 February 2005

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

56. Chair’s, Members’ and Clerk’s update (Oral report)

(Agenda item 4)

Kirsten Hearn reported that she together with the Chair of the Committee had held a useful meeting with the community police consultative group in Haringey, her link borough.

Resolved - That the oral report be received.

Order of business

On the suggestion of the Chair it was agreed that the order of business be varied. The minutes follow the order of business as set out in the printed agenda.

57. Reform of the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme

(Agenda item 5)

Members received a report which updated them on the progress of the implementation of the review of the London Independent Custody Visiting Scheme since the last meeting in February.

Aneeta Prem, the Chair of the Programme Board, reported that the Board had met for the first time earlier that day. Regular reports would be submitted to the Community Engagement Committee.

Resolved - That

1. the progress made to date on the implementation of the review of the ICV Scheme be noted;
2. the principle of partnership between MPA, the ICVs and the MPS Custody Directorate as the basis for work on improving the ICV Scheme in London be endorsed ; and
3. the Programme Board make regular progress reports to the Committee.

58. Monitoring deaths following police contact

(Agenda item 6)

A report was considered which gave details of the number of deaths following police contact in the year April 2004-March 2005 and the initiatives being undertaken to reduce and prevent similar deaths.

Members indicated that they were gratified to note that there had been a reduction in the number of deaths.

Resolved –That the report be noted.

59. A review of community police engagement arrangements at borough level

(Agenda item 7)

The purpose of this report is to review the existing arrangements for borough level community police engagement in London and put forward a number of options for development and reform, and seek direction for future borough based activity. It is intended that a further report will be submitted which set outs an implementation process for the agreed future arrangements with the aim of having them in place by April 2006.

In introducing the report explained that the letter included at Appendix 1 had been sent on 26 February and not 7 June as shown.

Tony Arbour urged that a “one size fits all” approach be not taken.

On the suggestion of the Chair it was agreed that Standing Orders be suspended for 10 minutes to allow Sandra Flower, the Chair of the London PCCG Forum, to address the Committee.

Mrs Flower said that option 2 would appear to be the best way forward although there were concerns about the implementation date. The Forum also felt that groups should have the opportunity to submit comments to the Community Engagement Committee if it was not to receive its full budget. The Forum welcomed the idea of two or three pilots and these could be set up in a number of ways.

A copy of the points made by Mrs Flower is attached to the minutes as Appendix 1.

In summing up the discussion the Chair said it was clear that there was general support for option 2 and that it would be appropriate to delete the final sentence of paragraph 80.

Resolved – That option 2 be supported and a revised version of the report to reflect that view and to incorporate some of the points raised at the meeting be submitted to the next meeting of the Full Authority.

60. MPA Community Engagement Strategy

(Agenda item 8)

A report was considered which put forward for adoption a community engagement strategy for the MPA.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Bryan said more work needed to be done on how the MPS would deliver its support for the strategy and it would be preferable if the Strategy were approved by the full Authority when this work had been completed.

The Deputy Chief Executive and Clerk said that was somewhat surprised to learn that there were some unresolved issues.

It was suggested that as part of the work programme the relevant MPA and MPS officers should hold a meeting to give detailed consideration to joint working.

Resolved – That the strategy be approved and it be forwarded to the full Authority at its meeting on 28 July 2005.

61. Safer London Panel – work programme

(Agenda item 9)

This report presents a forward plan for the MPA’s Citizen Panel (the Safer London Panel) for the fiscal year 2005/06. The plan outlines the different ways by which the MPA will utilise the 3,000-member Panel this financial year as well as proposed directions for the following financial year. The report also details how the feedback and findings from the Panel will be disseminated in order to inform service provision and policy development.

Commander Bryan requested that the work of the Panel be dovetailed with the capacity of the MPS to deal with any work flowing from its activities.

Resolved – That

1. the Committee endorse the plans for the Safer London Panel outlined in the report; and
2. the Panel be made available for research use by other members of the GLA group and by other relevant statutory authorities.

62. Citizen Focus Policing Programme

(Agenda item 10)

A report was considered which updated members on the arrangements that have been put in place to implement citizen focussed policing within the MPS.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the programme of action outlined in the report be agreed.

63. MPS Community Engagement Strategy

(Agenda item 11)

An update report was considered which updated members on how the MPS will put in an infrastructure which that outlined the MPS Strategic Consultation Unit work plan.

Resolved – That

1. members note the report; and
2. members endorse the plan of action outlined in the report.

64. Challenges in safer neighbourhoods

(Agenda item 12)

A report was received which provided an update on the Safer Neighbourhoods Programme and details of the engagement method and systems in place to support the programme.

Members commented that this was a useful and thought provoking report.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

65. Public attitude survey funding

(Agenda item 13)

This report was withdrawn.

66. Annual report

(Agenda item 14)

A report was submitted which summarises the key issues addressed by the Community Engagement Committee over the last year and some of the challenges it will need to address in the future.

Resolved – That members note the report.

67. Presentation on organised criminal networks (Oral report)

(Agenda item 15)

Commander Wilkinson gave a short presentation on the work, which her newly established team, which sits within the Specialist Crime Directorate, was tackling on dealing with organised crime networks.

Work on the crime-harm matrix had shown that the networks could be categorised by the following characteristics:

• Families
• Geographical
• Virtual e.g. paedophile rings using the internet
• Communities

Involvement with local communities was seen as key to addressing this issue. There were some good models for engagement with local communities which would be used. Specific training would be provided as necessary.

The meeting closed at 4.10 p.m.

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