Minutes - draft

Please note these minutes are currently draft and are subject to committee approval.

Minutes of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee held on 8 April 2005 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Len Duvall (Chair item 5-7)
• Jennette Arnold
• Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair)
• Richard Barnes
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair in the Chair items 1-4)
• Kirsten Hearn
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Karim Murji
• Richard Sumray
• Graham Tope
• Abdal Ullah

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive and Clerk)
• David Riddle (Deputy Chief Executive, Deputy Clerk and Solicitor to the Authority)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Sir Ian Blair (Commissioner)
• Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner)

52. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Rachel Whittaker. Apologies for lateness were received from Len Duvall (Chair) and it was agreed that until his arrival Cindy Butts, Deputy Chair, Chair the meeting.

53. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

Cindy Butts declared a prejudicial personal interest in agenda item 5 – Approval for member over sea visit and withdrew from the meeting for this item.

54. Minutes – 11 February 2005

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee considered the minutes (Part 1) of the Committee meeting held on 11 March 2005.

Resolved - That the minutes (Part 1) of the meeting held on 11 March 2005, be agreed and signed as a correct record.

55. Update on Taser

(Agenda item 4)

The Committee received a report that summarised the trial of the X26 Taser device.

Members were informed that the Taser sighting system had been classified as 3R according to the British laser standard and that it was a low risk of Taser affecting medical equipment, there was not a significant risk of ignition if a Taser is used near a subject sprayed with CS or PAVA incapacitated spray nor was there a significant risk of affecting flight critical system of aircraft in flight.

The Committee were informed that in trials the X26 Taser performed marginally better than the M26 in most areas, but the M26 was half the cost of the X26. Members noted that the conclusion is that the risk of life threatening or serious injury from the M26 is very low.

In receiving the report, members reiterated their support for Taser as a less lethal option and requested a further report to the Committee that gave additional information on the X26 Taser. It was agreed that the report include a more detailed comparison between the two Tasers options, detailed cost implications and that a full risk assessment of the X26 be undertaken.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the Committee receive a further report on Taser at the appropriate point.

56. Any urgent business

(Agenda item 5)

Len Duvall in the Chair.

Approval for member over sea visit.

The Chair agreed to receive a report on the grounds that an urgent decision was required in order to allow suitable travelling arrangements to be made.

The Committee received a report that informed them that the MPS had invited Cindy Butts to visit Jamaica to support SCD8 Trident training and community initiatives.

Resolved – That approval be given to Cindy Butts travelling to Jamaica from 25 to 29 April 2005 to support SCD8 trident training and community initiatives.

Statement in the Eastern Eye newspaper

The Commissioner informed the Committee that he had written to the editor of the Eastern Eye refuting comments they had recently published in relation to the MPS allegedly targeting the Asian community in operations relating to possible terrorist activity.

57. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 6)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during an urgent item 7, as it was likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Resolved – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of item 7.

Summary of exempt items

58. Minutes

(Agenda item 7)

The Committee considered the Minutes (Part 2) of the Committee meeting held on 11 March 2005.

Resolved - That the minutes (Part 2) of the Committee meeting held on 11 March 2005, be agreed and signed as a correct record.

The meeting closed at 12.05 pm

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