Minutes

Minutes of the an meeting of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee held on 4 September 2008 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Kit Malthouse (First Deputy Chair, in the Chair), Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair), Faith Boardman, James Cleverly, Dee Doocey, Toby Harris, Kirsten Hearn, Steve O’Connell, Aneeta Prem, Richard Sumray, and Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• Jane Harwood (Assistant Chief Executive)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
•  Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner)
• DAC Cressida Dick, (Specialist Operations)
• DAC Chris Allison (Central Operations)
• Commander Rod Jarman (Territorial Operations)
• Anne McMeel (Director of Resources)
•  Martin Tiplady (Director of Human Resources)

Part 1

30. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Len Duvall (Chair), Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair) and John Roberts. Reshard Auladin apologised for lateness.

31. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations were made.

32. Minutes – 4 July 2008 (Part 1)

(Agenda item 3)

Members considered the minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2008.

In relation to minute 23, members felt the minute did not reflect the decision that that asset management plans were on hold. It was agreed that the minutes should be redrafted and submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the minutes (Part 1) of the Authority meeting held on 4 July 2008 be were not agreed and an amendment was requested to minute 23 to reflect the decision that asset management plans had been placed on hold.

33. Notting Hill Carnival  - oral report

(Agenda item 4)

Members were provided with an oral update on the policing of the Notting Hill Carnival. The Deputy Commissioner explained that the reason for an oral report was in order to provide the Authority, at the earliest opportunity, feedback on the policing of the Carnival.

As part of the feedback, DAC Chris Allison, informed members that one of the key elements of policing the Carnival this year had been the need to implement new regulations about noise levels. It was noted that the MPS and other partners had monitored noise levels and these had indicated that despite all the work, levels had been exceeded and that this would now become an issue in the planning for next year’s Carnival. Members were also given details of ‘Operation Razorback’, a pre Carnival intelligence operation to help prevent potential crime at the event.

DAC Allison also informed members of the operational policing of Carnival across the three days, detailing arrests and the likely cost of policing the event. He informed the meeting that while crime had gone up from 667 crimes last year to 787 crimes this year, 457 of these crimes were for drug offences. Crimes with a victim had reduced by 30% from 272 last year, down to 190 this year. The MPS had made over 420 arrests for a variety of offences, a figure, which included 158 individuals at the Oval who were intending to go to carnival to commit disorder. In addition, 21 dogs were seized by specialist dog officers. He was happy to report that there were no reported stabbings or shootings at carnival.

However there had been some serious incidents during the closure of the Carnival where officers were attacked with bottles, with approximately 50 officers sustaining minor injuries and two receiving serious injuries, though both were now recovering well. As a result of the disorder, officers were deployed in protective equipment and the streets were slowly cleared. DAC Allison informed members that a post-event investigation was now taking place to identify those responsible for the disorder and bring them to justice. DAC Allison also informed members of the positive and supportive response that had been received from the community as a result of the way in which the carnival had been policed.

DAC Allison concluded by confirming that there would be an operational debrief of the policing operation and continued discussion with representatives of the Carnival on a number of issues, including the timing of the event and in particular noise levels and the establishment of contracts with those with sound systems in order to meet new regulations.

Members, in thanking the MPS for the policing of the Carnival, raised a number of which included:

•  the role of barriers at Carnival.
•  discussions between the MPS and Carnival organisers over ending Carnival earlier.
•  the need to engage with the MPA and GLA in particular on Carnival, particularly as the event in 2012 will clash with the Olympics.

RESOLVED – The report be received.

34. Counter Terrorism: The London Debate update

(Agenda item 5)

Members received a report that provided the latest update on the MPS’ response to the findings of the MPA ‘Counter Terrorism: The London debate’.

DAC Cressida Dick, in presenting the report, confirmed that all of the recommendations outlined in the original report that were for action by the MPS had now been implemented and integrated into the business of the MPS. In doing so, DAC Dick added that MPS would not be complacent about these issues and would continue to provide updates on them through the day-to-day business of the MPS. With this in mind she suggested that this should be the final update report from the MPS. Members agreed with the suggestion and that monitoring of the recommendations should be taken through the usual business of the MPS. Members also thanked the MPS for its engagement work on counter terrorism with the Disability Advisory Group, which had often felt excluded in the debate on this issue.

Some members felt that there was scope for the MPA to consider a refresh of the issues raised in the London debate, particularly around community attitudes to the recommendations now that they had been implemented by the MPS. Members also suggested that there was still further work to be undertaken with the business community and Sikh community on counter terrorism. Some members were concerned that much more work was required with disaffected people in prisons and youth offending institutions who were possibly subjected to radicalisation.

Members were provided with some reassurance relating to the recruitment and retention rates among BME and women, which was considered as good and improving, and attrition issues in specialist operations. The Deputy Commissioner in response to members’ questions confirmed that the MPS were not against 12-hour shifts, but was debating both the benefits and drawbacks of this practice.

RESOLVED – That the report and the update on the MPS responses to the 46 recommendations for the MPS contained in the London Debate be noted.

35. Implementation of crime mapping

(Agenda item 6)

Members received a report that provided details of the development of a new crime mapping website within the MPS. The report provided details of the context in which the site was being progressed and details on the consultation process. The report also drew members attention to the key implementation and legal risks, together with details of the equality and diversity impact assessment.

Members welcomed the introduction of this initiative and noted that in the first days that it had been operational, a large number of people had accessed the site. Members felt that crime mapping was beneficial in allowing local communities to access information and as a good source of interchange with partners.

Members raised a number of questions relating to the introduction of crime mapping, which included:

• The need for further consideration of alternative methods of accessing this information, particularly for those who do not have access to computers and those with special needs requirements.
•  Some members expressed disappointment that the launch of the initiative had taken place before the MPA had had an opportunity to discuss it. One member asked about the governance of such policy development and how an executive mayors role fitted with the role of a non-executive Chair of the MPA. The Chief Executive in noting this agreed that the Authority needed a clear understanding of this joint governance role.
•  There was a need to develop how the initiative would operate along side Neighbourhood Watch.
•  Members suggested that there should be discussions with the Home Office on disseminating details of the MPS’ national policing function.

RESOLVED – That the progress towards fully establishing a crime mapping website by April 2009 be noted.

36. London Criminal Justice Board Diamond initiative

(Agenda item 7)

Members received a report, which followed up a report to this Committee and the Finance Committee in June 2008 on the ‘London Diamond Initiative’, which sought to test and evaluate a new approach to offender management at neighbourhood level.

Some members asked if it was appropriate to agree the extension of the pilot for this scheme at this stage. The MPS, whilst understanding the view expressed, was concerned that any delay could effect partnership funding and be detrimental to the assessment of the pilot of the scheme.

Members were also given details of the breakdown of funding of three additional pilots and it was confirmed that this would come from local authorities, the Probation Service and the MPS, but not, like the previous three pilots, from the Ministry of Justice.

Dee Doocey, whilst not opposed to the proposal in principle, requested that her opposition to resolution be noted on the basis that it was not timely and should have been considered as part of the budget process.

RESOLVED – That

1.  three further pilot sites at Hackney, Southwark and Croydon, for a two year period, be approved and it be noted that London Criminal Justice Board and the MPS would work in partnership to deliver the London Diamond Initiative to these three further boroughs, so that it is piloted in six areas of London;
2.  the strategic governance of the project remains with in the LCJB Reform Programme Board be agreed; and
3.  delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive to sign the joint agreement on behalf of the Authority.

37. Use of the MPA Partnership Fund Programme 2007-08

(Agenda item 8)

A report was considered that provided an overview of the distribution of the MPA Partnership Fund for the 2007/08 financial year.

In receiving the report, it was noted that prior to the next funding allocation members should review options for the Programme.

RESOLVED - That members note the report and the distribution of the MPA Partnership Fund across the 32 London Boroughs

38. Any other urgent business

(Agenda item 9)

There was no other urgent business.

39. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 9)

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, paragraph 3.

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

40. Police staff pay negotiations

(Agenda item 11)

Following a previous report to the Committee on 5 June 2008, members received further details on progress with police staff pay negotiations.

41. Any other urgent exempt business

(Agenda item 12)

There was no other exempt urgent business.

42. Minutes – 4 July 2008 (Part 2)

(Agenda item 13)

The minutes (Part 2) of the meeting held on 4 July 2008 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback