GLA Black and Minority Ethnic Communities (BME) cracking crime project

Report: 14
Date: 13 March 2003
By: Clerk

Summary

In March 2002 the MPA contributed financially as well as providing resources to the Government Office for London (GOL), Greater London Authority (GLA), BME Cracking Crimes 2 day conference in London. A detailed report was published following the event and this was circulated to members of the former Consultation Diversity and Outreach Committee. This report is presented to update members of the progress and the MPA’s continued involvement in the project.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report and agree the continued involvement of officers in the project.

B. Supporting information

1. The GLA propose to commission an external organisation to undertake a scoping exercise in two London boroughs. The purpose of this exercise is to set out a process for establishing the needs of BME community groups working on crime reduction, prevention and diversion, developing recommendations as to how the ‘network’ should select groups to work with in order to focus their resources. The work is also designed to identify mechanisms to work with statutory agencies in a given area. The brief for the consultants is attached at Appendix 1 for members. It also appears on the MPA website. (Copies may be obtained from the Secretariat - 020 7202 0181)

2. The purpose of this work is to progress the final stages of one of the key actions arising from the BME cracking crime steering group which is to develop a BME crime reduction network.

3. Following the BME cracking crime conference in March 2002 the multi agency steering group, responsible for developing the conference, re- convened in April to consider proposals emerging from the event. At that meeting it was agreed that a discussion paper focusing on the concept of a BME crime reduction network needed to be produced and considered by the steering group. A paper was produced by the Office for Public Management for consideration in October and the following was agreed:

• An incremental and targeted approach to the network concept needs to be adopted. This means that rather than developing a full network immediately, an objective should be selected and worked on initially.
• The first objective undertaken should be on fundraising for grassroots groups through targeted support.
• Approximately 5 London boroughs should be selected based on level of crime and ethnicity of residents and willingness to co-operate with the initiative.
• Further thought needs to be given to inner/outer London focus. One suggestion is to choose a geographical selection which would also assist with cross boundary working.
• For each borough selected work will need to be done on looking at existing local strategies and initiatives.
• Within these boroughs a number of organisations will be targeted as potential partners.
• The theme of young people could be selected as a focus for this work.
• A programme of activity for the network should be developed which will focus on what all of the agencies from the steering group can bring to the initiative.
• A consortium bid needed to be developed outlining the intention of the proposal and presenting clearly the aims and objectives of the initiative.
• Once this is developed a meeting should be set up with funders to secure support. (the Association of London Government is in principle able to provide some funding for this).

4. This work is currently in its final stages, Black Londoners Forum and London Action Trust are developing a funding bid for the service as outlined above and for an information/policy development service which would require Black Londoners Forum to develop a crime reduction sector within their organisation. GOL has indicated it will fund the project for the initial 15 months during which a clear fundraising strategy must be developed.

5. Once a bid has been developed and agreed, the steering group will be reformed into a multi agency partnership board providing a strategic input into the development and work of the BME crime reduction network.

Project steerage

6. The proposal emerged directly out of the BME cracking crime event which included representatives from a range of grassroots organisations in London.

The multi agency steering group guiding the development and progress of this work includes representatives from the GLA, ALG, GOL, MPA, MPS, London Action Trust, Black Londoners Forum.

GLA policy objective

7. This project relates to the objective outlined in the GLA Community Safety Team’s equality operational action plan “to implement policy recommendations arising from the recent Crime Prevention event with black and ethnic minority communities”.

C. Equality and diversity implications

This proposal takes forward work under the community safety equality operational action plan and aims to increase the response of BME grassroots organisations to crime at a local level.

D. Financial implications

The total cost for this project will is likely to be in the region of £15,000 to– £20,000 although quotes from 3 organisations will be sought. GOL will meet all costs relating to this work and this commitment from GOL will be put in writing prior to the start of any work or the GLA incurring expenditure. The project will be implemented by the Community Safety Team in the Finance and Performance Directorate and the BME Cracking Crime budget will be adjusted accordingly. The MPA Consultation budget has earmarked £5,000 towards the cost of this project primarily to be used for publicity and information to BME communities about access to the funding streams.

E. Background papers

BME Cracking Crimes report

F. Contact details

Report author: Julia Smith, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

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