Facilitating easier contact with the Metropolitan Police in non-urgent circumstances

Report: 6
Date: 6 Jan 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

The attached paper provide a basis for discussion on making it easier for the people who work, live and visit London to contact the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in non-urgent circumstances.

A. Recommendations

1. Members are invited to note the content of the paper.
2. Members are asked to endorse the proposal that further progress be reported to the relevant MPA Committee.

B. Supporting information

1. In response to a number of approaches made to the Authority, the MPS was commissioned to examine the feasibility of re-introducing police boxes where members of the public could make direct contact with the MPS to inform of non-urgent matters.

2. The report setting out the findings of initial research at Appendix A and provides some background to the volume of calls and alternative methods over and above the traditional blue police box approach.

3. Reference is made to the MPS Watchbox Project and the Public Carriage Office initiative ‘Safe Travel Home’ which seeks to increase public safety for their journeys by upgrading certain bus routes and the opportunity for the MPS to enter into some form of partnership onto this scheme. The report also promotes furthering the concept of single non-emergency numbers on a Borough-by-Borough basis.

C. Equality and diversity implications

Whilst this paper is a discussion document at a strategic level, any proposal would need to ensure that any eventual solution would address particular needs of hard to reach groups both in terms of technical application and any media promoting the introduction of any agreed service.

D. Financial implications

The financial implications would depend on the package finally adopted and any possibility of sponsorship. There would undoubtedly be an impact on the C3i project and an evaluation will be required by the Project team.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Chief Inspector Steve Benn, MPS.

For more information contact:

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

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