Minutes

Minutes of the an meeting of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee held on 5 June 2008 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Len Duvall (Chair)
• Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair)
• Jennette Arnold
• James Cleverly
• Faith Boardman
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair)
• Toby Harris
• Kirsten Hearn
• Kit Malthouse (First Deputy Chair)
• Karim Murji
• Steve O’Connell
• Aneeta Prem
• John Roberts,
• Richard Sumray
• Richard Tracey
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Martin Davis (Head of Engagement and Partnerships)
• Jane Harwood (Assistant Chief Executive)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• Alan Johnson (Policy Officer, HR)
• Chris Benson (Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Sir Ian Blair (Commissioner)
• Kevin Courtney (Head of Pay and Benefits)
• Tarique Ghaffur (Assistant Commissioner, Central Operations)
• Alf Hitchcock (Territorial Policing)
• Anne McMeel (Director of Resources)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of Human Resources)

Part 1

1. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

The members of the Committee formally introduced themselves. Apologies for absence were received from Dee Doocey (member) and Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner).

2. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations were made.

In answer to questions about the murder of Arsema Dawit, the Commissioner advised the Committee that he was unable to comment on the death of Arsema Dawit as the matter was sub judice. He did however express his sadness and concern for the Dawit family.

The Commissioner informed members that on 3 June 2008 he attended a meeting with AC Tim Godwin and senior officers from all London boroughs to reinforce the investigation of every allegation involving potentially violent offenders. The intention was to ensure high level of supervision and risk assessment of investigations in might appear to be minor incidents involving violence, or the threat of violence, which might be a precursor to a more serious attack. Officers had been tasked to reassess every case in their borough where there was a named or identifiable suspect involved in wounding, assault, threats to kill and allegations of harassment with a view to expediting everything that can be done and taking appropriate action.

Members noted the statement from the Commissioner and the status of the case, expressed their shock at the death of Arsema Dawit and extended their sadness and concern to the Dawit family. In doing so, some members expressed some concerns and these included:

• Concern about the number of officer short falls in Lambeth;
• the need to reassure young people that if they report a crime or incident that it will be taken seriously;
• a clear message be given that the reviewing of old cases was not about seeking to blame; and
• the MPS should ensure that there is a media strategy around the reviewing of these old cases.

The Chair, added that following the review of procedure the MPS should be confident in implementing any necessary changes and not feel that they had to await the findings of the IPCC investigation relating to the case.

3. Minutes – 6 March 2008 (Part 1)

(Agenda item 3)

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2008 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

4.  Minutes - Remuneration sub committee 21 February 2008

(Agenda item 4)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2008 be noted.

5. Membership of the Remuneration sub committee

(Agenda item 5)

Members considered a report, which sought nominations for membership of the Remuneration Sub-Committee until 30 September 2008. It was agreed the Remuneration Sub-Committee should consider revising its terms of reference in regard to paragraph 8 to reflect the recent changes made to the MPA’s management structure.

RESOLVED - That Reshard Auladin, Cindy Butts, Len Duvall, Kit Malthouse, Steve O’Connell and Rachel Whittaker be appointed to serve on the Remuneration Sub- Committee until the 30 September 2008.

6. Safer Neighbourhoods update

(Agenda item 6)

The Committee received an update on the key aspects of the Safer Neighbourhoods programme.

The Chair advised that whist the report provided a very detailed update, a more focused report was required. It was agreed that a further report should be commissioned for a future meeting of the Committee. It was suggested that the report commissioning process be reviewed, with commissioning briefs for reports being agreed in discussion with the Chair’s of the appropriate committees and support officers.

During the discussion of this item, the following issues were raised and it was agreed that they should be used as the basis for the commissioning brief for the report referred to above.

• More flexibility was required, not the just the provision of a 9.00 am to 6.00 pm service.
• Quality standards should be published, including a “core menu” of services to reflect the different areas of operation such as, inner city, core city and outer/suburban etc.
• The development of quality benchmark across London.
• Tasking issues, are they consistent across London.
• Visibility issues – close proximity policing. Did foot patrols always have to be carried out in pairs, (subject to risk assessment being undertaken)?
• What measures can be taken to encourage staff to remain in posts for longer, to gain greater local knowledge, develop relationships and build a contact base?
• What are the links to community engagement boards, and how are they used to best effect?
• Value for money
• Is a holistic approach to working with young people being developed?
• How does the Safer Neighbourhood programme relate to the Flanagan Review?
• Review the affect on Safer Neighbourhood areas of working across wards or borough boundaries.
• Maximise the benefits to be obtained from the GLA family to improve the safety of transport hubs etc.
• Increase partnership working with Eurostar and others responsible for the upkeep of railway stations and related property such as railway arches, to maintain the appearance and security of these properties.
• How is information once collected, stored, used and shared by others?
• Comment on the quality of engagement rather than quantity.
• Mainstreaming aspects of the work, to avoid possible dilution of effort.

RESOLVED – That

1. the report be noted; and

2. the bullet points listed above should form the basis of a commissioning brief for a further report on the Safer Neighbourhoods Programme.

7. Disproportionality of minority ethnic children killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents

(Agenda item 7)

Members were asked to note the report on Transport for London (TfL) data on deprivation and its affect on child injuries and fatalities.

It was noted that whilst the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) did not have a remit to address the issue of deprivation, it did have a duty of enforcement, education and partnership working with local authorities and other agencies etc, to reduce injuries associated with road traffic accidents.

It was agreed that a report setting out what actions the MPS will take, working in partnership to reduce the dangers of road traffic accidents be submitted to the October meeting of the Authority.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

8. The accountability and effectiveness of Gold groups

(Agenda item 8)

It was agreed to withdrawn the report and to commission a joint paper to assess the effectiveness, accountability and the lessons learnt from the Gold Teams, the commissioning brief to be drafted by the Chair Len Duvall and the Assistant Chef Executive. The report to be submitted to the September meeting of Co-ordination and Policing Committee

RESOLVED - That the report be received.

9. Project Herald

(Agenda item 9)

Project Herald proposed the introduction of a new custody staffing model that aimed to deliver a more efficient, safer custody environment. This report focused upon the provision of additional designated detention officers (DDOs) performing an enhanced role as data and requested agreement to the proposed financial arrangements.

The Chair requested that members be provided with more information on the background and the current position of Project Herald, including information on how the finance required by the project related to the overall financial strategy. It was agreed that following provision of further information approval for financing the project should be sought under the urgency procedure via the Chief Executive.

RESOLVED – That following provision of further information to members, agreement of the Committee to the financing of this project be sought under the Authority’s urgency procedure.
 Authority’s urgency procedure.

10. Any other urgent business

(Agenda item 10)

There was no other urgent business.

11. Exclusion of the press and public

(Agenda item 11)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during remaining items on the agenda as they were likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act 1972, paragraphs 1, 4 and 5.

RESOLVED - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the remaining items on the agenda

Summary of decisions made on exempt items (Part 2)

12. Police staff pay negotiations 2008-09
(Agenda item 12)
The committee noted the report which suggested an approach by the MPS to the 2008/09 pay negotiations for police staff, including the potential changes to terms and conditions and endorsed the approach to concluding police staff pay negotiations this year, as set out in paragraphs 20 –31 of the report.

13. Request for ex-gratia payment
(Agenda item 13)
An ex-gratia payment of £10,000 to a former Detective Superintendent was approved, as a full and final settlement.

14. Legal costs for officers: Southwark coroners Court - the Stockwell Shooting
(Agenda item 14)
The finding of legal costs for officers for the Coroners Court process, was be approved, subject to the standard terms and conditions set out by the MPS and MPA in March 2007.

15. Any urgent exempt business
The Chair agree to receive the following items as urgent business:

• Senior police staff –proposal for redundancy (Agenda item 15a)
  The Committee noted the proposal to make a member of the senior police staff redundant following reorganisation within the MPS and approved the redundancy arrangements.
• Proposal for the continuation of the outline design of the strategic command centre, and the tendering to main contractors (Agenda item 15b)
  The Committee was asked to approve the further design works for the Strategic Command Centre at Peel Centre, Hendon. A decision was deferred and the MPS was asked to confirm, in writing, the discussions held with the Home Office with regard to the funding of the Olympics related element of the proposal. The report would be discussed at the next meeting of the Committee in July.

18. Exempt minutes of the Co-ordination and policing committee 6 March 2008  (Part 2)
(Agenda item 16)
The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2008 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

19. Exempt minutes of the Remuneration sub committee - 21 February 2008 ( Part 2)
(Agenda item 17)
The exempt minutes of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 21 February 2008 were noted.

The meeting closed at 1.00 pm

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