Minutes

Minutes of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee held on 12 November 2004 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Len Duvall (Chair)
• Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair)
• Jennette Arnold
• Richard Barnes
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair)
• Karim Murji
• Richard Sumray
• Rachel Whittaker
• Abdal Ullah

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• David Riddle (Deputy Clerk)
• Peter Martin (Treasurer)
• Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Sir Ian Blair (Deputy Commissioner)
• DAC Steve House
• Ailsa Beaton (Director of Information)

30. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Toby Harris, Kirsten Hearn and Elizabeth Howlett.

31. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No interests were declared.

32. Minutes– 8 October 2004

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee considered the minutes (Part 1) of the meeting held on 8 October 2004.

Resolved - That the minutes (Part 1) of the meeting held on 8 October 2004, be agreed and signed as a correct record.

33. The proposed ‘merger’ of the Royal Parks Constabulary with the Metropolitan Police Service

(Agenda item 4)

The Committee received a report that provided an update on the merger of the Royal Parks Constabulary into the Metropolitan Police Service.

Members were informed that primary legislation was required to enable the merger to take place and that the merger may be included in the forthcoming Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill and if so, the merger could be completed by the Summer of 2005. The Deputy Commissioner, in welcoming the merger, reported that there was need for the MPS to develop the role of the MPS in policing royal parks, particularly as there were different demands made on the service throughout the year.

With reference to post merger annual running costs, the Treasurer indicated that this would need to be monitored and suggested that the preference was for funding to be provided as a ‘specific grant’.

The Clerk informed members that it would be useful in have a link member for Royal Parks.

Resolved – That the Committee note the progress of this initiative.

34. MPA/NHS joint review of mental health and policing – terms of reference

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee received a report that set out the draft terms of reference for the MPA/NHS joint review of mental health and policing.

In receiving the terms of reference, members raised a number of issues, which included confirmation of the ethnic/faith make-up of the Panel, some members felt that the Reviews recommendations would be undermined if the Panel was not representative of communities not represented. There was also concern relating to assumption that the chair’s view would be decisive and the need to representation from local authorises, with particular reference to potential housing issues.

The Deputy Commissioner also invited the Review to include representation from a senior operational police officer.

Richard Sumray, as an MPA member on the Review informed members that he felt that the Project Board, along with the Reference Group, with included key stakeholders was representative of most of London communities. In addition, he anticipated that both the Project Board and Reference Group would include presentation etc from a wide range of groups impacted by mental health and policing. He acknowledged that the inclusion of a local authority representative would be beneficial and indicated that an Assistant Director of Social Services had expressed an interest in feeding into the Review. The offer of a senior MPS officer to feed into the Review was also welcomed.

Regarding the reference to the chair’s view being decisive, he agreed that reference to this should be removed.

Resolved – That members approve the terms of reference for the MPA/NHS joint review of mental health and policing, with particular reference to membership, overall scope, expenditure and timescales.

35. Operational readiness and assessment of operational risk

(Agenda item 6)

Members received a report that provided and update on the C3i/Airwave programme moving to live operation for Metcall Initial Phase Day

Resolved – That member note the Strategy Group decision of 14 October to move to live operation from Lambeth on 16 November 2004, subject to operational position.

36. Any urgent business - the APA annual conference 23/24 November 2004

(Additional item)

Members agreed to receive this report on the basis that it was urgent and that approval for member attendance at the APA conference was required by 11 November 2005.

Members received a report that sought approval to the attendance of five members at the APA Annual Conference in Brighton on 23-24 November 2004. The Chair agreed to receive the report on the grounds of urgency, as conference cost exceeded the threshold and member approval was required in order for arrangements for members’ attendance to be undertaken.

Resolved - That

1. approval be given to the attendance of five members at the APA Annual Conference in Brighton; and
2. the Clerk be authorised to agree which members should attend the conference.

37 Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 7)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during agenda item 8 as it was likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) (9) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Resolved – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during agenda item 8.

38 Minutes – 8 October 2004

(Agenda item 8)

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2004 (Part 2)

Resolved - That the minutes (Part 2) of the meeting held on 8 October 2004 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

The meeting closed 12:05 p.m.

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