Review of policing by Sir Ronnie Flanagan

Report: 6
Date: 27 September 2007
By: Chief Executive

Summary

This report provides members with information required to consider and develop an MPA position on the Sir Ronnie Flanagan Review of Policing.

A. Recommendations

That Members consider the interim report published by Sir Ronnie Flanagan and the Association of Police Authorities (APA) draft positions developed on the review and; work to develop a considered MPA position to be delivered to Sir Ronnie Flanagan, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, during a special meeting on 4 October.

B. Supporting information

1. Following a debate during July Full Authority members agreed that a special debate should be scheduled during the September Co-ordination and Policing Committee to consider in detail a MPA policy position for the Sir Ronnie Flanagan Review of Policing.

2. A joint MPA/S submission addressing neighbourhood policing and bureaucracy minimisation was sent to the review team in June 2007. Sir Ronnie published his interim findings earlier this month. This report, although interim focuses on neighbourhood policing and bureaucracy and makes a number of recommendations. Most of these are aimed at the Home Office, Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the APA and other national organisations, but there will inevitably be consequences for the MPA and the MPS in taking these forward. These have yet to be fully worked through, and members will be updated in due course.

3. The next stage of the review will focus on local accountability and use of resources. In his interim report, Sir Ronnie outlines a number of areas that he believes require further thought. These are outlined as follows:

Managing resources

• Maximising productivity and efficiency
• Maximising impact
• Maximising available resources

Local accountability

• Principles of accountability
• Enhancing the role of local people
• Community cohesion and social exclusion
• Providing a quality customer service
• Structures and systems
• Provision of information
• Performance targets

Further detail can be found in sections 3 and 4 of the interim review at Appendix 1. The interim response by the Association of Police Authorities is contained at Appendix 2 and that by the MPS at Appendix 3. These appendices are enclosed for members and also appear on the MPA website with the agenda for this meeting.

4. Members are requested to consider the information provided in the appendices to this report, concentrating specifically on accountability and resourcing matters and consider MPA specific implications and an MPA policy position.

5. Next steps: Sir Ronnie has agreed to meet with members and MPS management board on 4 October 2007. In advance of that meeting officers will write up the outcome of the discussion at today’s CoP meeting into a submission that can be tabled at that meeting.

C. Race and equality impact

The Flanagan Review intends to be a fundamental review of policing and as such there are wide-ranging equality implications, not least for the London context. In our response to the review, a number of issues will need to be covered including:

• Use of resources – the importance of fostering systems and cultures that optimise the skills of all staff
• Local accountability – developing an approach that is sufficiently flexible to respond to the needs of diverse communities such as London.

A fuller consideration of these implications will be included in the final submission to the review.

D. Financial implications

There are no financial implications arising from this report.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Sally Benton, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

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