Scrutiny of communication and media at the MPS

Report: 11
Date: 1 September 2006
By: Chief Executive and Clerk

Summary

This report requests Member endorsement of the terms of reference for the communication and media scrutiny.

A. Recommendations

That members approve the terms of reference for the communication and media scrutiny.

B. Supporting information

Background

1. In March 2006 Co-ordination and Policing Committee approved the MPA scrutiny programme for 2006/07. This included some contingency to allow the MPA to divert scrutiny resources towards key issues as they arose during the year. During a debate at full authority about the police search of a property in Forest Gate, Members recommended that a scrutiny of the MPS approach to media and communications management should be carried out.

Scrutiny Panel

2. The scrutiny will be chaired by Len Duvall. Damian Hockney, Elizabeth Howlett, Karim Murji and Rachel Whittaker will sit on the panel.

Objective of the scrutiny

3. The objectives of the scrutiny are to:

• To assess the extent to which the MPS has the strategies, policies, protocols and processes in place to ensure efficient and effective communication, media and reputation management, particularly in the context of the 24 hour news environment.
• To undertake a detailed analysis of the handling of the media and communication during the Forest Gate incident in June 2006.
• To assess how effectively the MPS engages internally to manage communication to the media, Londoners and stakeholders, particularly during sensitive operations.
• To understand the culture of the MPS towards communication and media management and the impact this has on the delivery of an effective service.
• To evaluate the use of resources available to the MPS to deliver this key function, including understanding the division of resources and lines of accountability between central and local directorates.
• To understand the legal context within which the MPS operates and the implications this has for the organisation.

C. Race and equality impact

1. Given the importance of communicating to all sections of London’s diverse communities on key aspects of policing, equality and diversity implications will be assessed as an integral part of the review. This will be a vital step in ensuring emerging recommendations not only assist the MPA in meeting is various legal duties, but that they positively impact on trust, confidence and community cohesion.

2. The outcome of the scrutiny will be supplemented by the outcomes from the 7 September 2006 EODB meeting, which will have as its ‘focus item’: ‘How The MPS Communicates’.

D. Financial implications

No additional financial costs have been identified.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Siobhan Coldwell, Head of Scrutiny and Review, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

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