Minutes

Minutes of the an meeting of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee held on 1 February 2007 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Len Duvall (Chair)
• Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair)
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair)
• Kirsten Hearn
• Damian Hockney
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Karim Murji
• Aneeta Prem
• John Roberts
• Richard Sumray
• Graham Tope
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive and Clerk)
• David Riddle (Deputy Chief Executive and Solicitor)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• John Crompton (Committee Services)
• Kerry McClelland (ICV Manager) attended for agenda item 5

MPS officers

• Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner)
• John Yates (Assistant Commissioner, Operational Services)
• Richard Bryan (Deputy Assistant Commissioner)
• Steve Roberts (Deputy Assistant Commissioner)
• Rob Jarman (Commander)
• Martin Stevens (Detective Superintendent, Safer Neighbourhoods Unit)
• Claire Hunt (Head of Strategic Human Resources)
• Andrew Bundle (Head of Uniformed Services)
• Alistair Thompson (Deputy Director of Resources)
• DCI Dave Reed

Also in attendance – Peter Herbert

67. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Jennette Arnold and Richard Barnes.

68. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

Kirsten Hearn declared an interest in agenda item 7 as a member of the Board of Transport for London.

69. Minutes – 7 December 2006

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2006 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

70. Minutes of the Remuneration Sub-committee 8 December 2006

(Agenda item 4)

Resolved – That the minutes be noted.

71. Independent custody visiting scheme

(Agenda item 5)

A report was submitted which described the progress made with the implementation of the remodelling of the London Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) Scheme since the meeting of the Committee on July 2006 and outlines the proposed new governance framework and operating structure for the ICV scheme.

The ICV Scheme manager attended for consideration of this item. In reply to questions from members, the scheme manager explained that there would be some targeted recruitment for groups currently under represented and changes made to the volunteer recruitment process would mean that it would be possible to extend the range of monitoring undertaken.

Resolved – That

1. the progress to date on the reform of the ICV scheme be noted;
2. the new governance framework and operating structure for the ICV Scheme be ratified; and
3. a progress report be submitted in October

72. MPS Olympic programme update

(Agenda item 6)

This report outlined the progress of the MPS Olympic policing programme.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

73. Safer transport teams

(Agenda item 7)

This report outlined the progress on the implementation of Safer Transport teams. There will be 378 Safer Transport Police Community Support Officers (STPCSOs) deployed to work alongside existing safer neighbourhood teams in a joint initiative between Transport for London and the MPS.

In reply to questions the Committee was advised that the progress in recruiting the STPCSOs had been better than expected which meant that the teams would be in place in April rather than June as planned. The teams would be under the control of the borough Commander. For phase 1 the teams would largely be house in existing police accommodation but other solutions would be used in the second phase. The training would be of the same duration as that for PCSOs. Performance standards would be drawn up in conjunction with TfL.

Resolved – That the Committee notes and supports the joint initiative between TfL and the MPS for purpose of increasing confidence and satisfaction in the policing of transport location interchange facilities.

74. MPS historical collection

(Agenda item 8)

This report informed members of improvements made to the maintenance of the MPS historical collection and the intention to make the artefacts more accessible to the public.

In answer to questions, the Committee was advised that the trustees had not met since 2004 and that since the report had been written there had been an initial meeting with the new owners of the Bow Street premises.

Karim Murji reported that he had visited the warehouse where the collection was currently held and could confirm that it was unsuitable for public access.

In summing up, the Chair said that the Authority welcomed the progress that had been made and supported the provision of a permanent collection in a location that could be accessed by members of the public. He requested a further report, which would include a business case. Further thought should be given to the governance arrangements, for example appointing a fresh set of trustees and MPA involvement. He also suggested that further discussions be held with the City of London police.

Resolved – That

1. the improvements made to the maintenance of the MPS historical collection be noted;
2. the position with regard to the legal advice about the ownership of the artefacts held be noted; and
3. a further report be submitted on how a permanent collection could be made available including a business plan

75. Progress report: MPA improvement programme

(Agenda item 9)

This report presented an update on the Metropolitan Police Authority’s improvement programme. It outlined general progress, issues and risks.

Resolved – That the Committee notes the eight aims and objectives of the Improvement Programme, the MPA Values and Behaviour Model, the new organisation structure, progress against the programme plan and issues and risks.

76. GLA group convergence programme

(Agenda item 10)

This report provided an update on the Greater London Authority group convergence programme

Resolved – That the report be noted.

77. The use of Anti Social Behaviour Orders across London

(Agenda item 11)

This report outlined the use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. In welcoming the report, Cindy Butts said she was disappointed that it did not contain information on dispersal orders. She requested that this be included in the commissioning brief for a future report. Members also commented that it would be useful to see how the figures were broken down by the agency taking out the ASBO – police, housing association etc.

Resolved – That the report be noted and a further report be submitted which takes into consideration the points raised by members as outline above.

78. Legality of telephone intercepts - Operation Helios

(Agenda item 12)

This report summarises the finding of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal that the MPS intercepted phone calls during Operation Helios without lawful authority: it outlines the representations made to the MPA by the Metropolitan and National Black Police Associations and it describes the action being taken by the MPA.

The Deputy Chief Executive advised that a meeting had been held with interested parties and he was optimistic that a mediation process could be established as an alternative to litigation.

Resolved – That

1. the Committee note the decision of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal that the MPS unlawfully made private side phone intercepts during Operation Helios;
2. the concerns expressed by the Metropolitan and Black Police Associations be noted and the assurances given by the Chair of the Authority and supports the efforts to resolve matters by means of alternative dispute resolution rather than continuing litigation be endorsed;
3. the Chief Executive should report to the Professional Standards Committee if it appears, after preliminary inquiries, that there may be misconduct issues to be dealt with: and
4. when the matter is next reported to the Committee, the report set out the arrangements which had been put in place to ensure that there was not a recurrence.

79. Proposed joint working between MPS and Immigration Services

(Agenda item 13)

This report outlined the proposals to enhance joint working arrangements between the MPS and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND).

Members raised concerns about the way in which some deportation operations were being carried out and reiterated the need for all agencies to be aware of the impact of adverse publicity in terms of its impact on community cohesion. Peter Herbert said that he sat as an Immigration Judge and felt that the IND was targeting the ‘easy’ cases which involved the most vulnerable people.

Resolved – That the report be noted and support be given for continuation of the project for enhanced joint working.

80. Co-ordination and Policing Committee – dates of meetings in 2007/08

(Agenda item 14)

This report sought the agreement of the Committee to a schedule of future dates of its meetings for the period July 2007 to July 2008.

Resolved –.That the Committee agrees the schedule for the dates for meetings as outlined at Appendix 1.

81. Any other urgent business

Review of Association of Chief Police Officer (ACPO) terms and conditions

(Agenda item 15)

Pursuant to the terms of reference for the Committee, members agreed to consider a report that had been circulated after the agenda despatch.

The report explained the proposal to commission the MPS to make some changes, for adoption by the Authority, to the terms and condition of ACPO rank officers.

Resolved - That the Committee note that the MPS has been requested to put forward some draft proposals to the Authority on ACPO terms and conditions.

82. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 16)

Resolved - That the press and public be asked to leave the meeting during discussion of the remaining items of business because exempt information as defined in Schedule 12a to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended is likely to be made known.

Summary of decisions made on exempt items

Minute 83 Agenda item 17 – PFI refinancing
No report

Minute 84 agenda item 18 – Human Resources Transformation –Procurement Strategy
Recommendations relating to the procurement of consultants were adopted.

Minute 85 agenda item 19 Minutes 7 December 2006
Agreed as a correct record.

Minute 86 agenda item 20 –Minutes of the Remuneration Sub-Committee 8 December 2006
Noted.

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