Disabled People And The Police Background Paper and Community Conference

Report: 05
Date: 02 September 2004
By: Clerk

Summary

The MPA has commissioned Greater London Action on Disability (GLAD) to produce a background paper on policing issues affecting disabled people. Key findings and action areas will form the basis of discussion at a community conference organised by GLAD on behalf of the MPA on 7 October 2004. This will provide the basis for a MPA strategy on engaging with disabled people in London.

A. Recommendations

That members note the report and presentation.

B. Supporting information

Background

1. London’s diversity includes characteristics not only of race, ethnicity, language and immigrant refugee status. It also includes huge differences in crime and safety experiences, and thereby different policing needs based on age, gender, sexual orientation and mental and physical ability. Further layers of London’s ever increasing diversity that impacts upon policing – and thereby methods of community engagement and accountability processes – include the complex and overlapping differences and divisions that exist in terms of people’s values and beliefs, lifestyles, life chances and levels of disadvantage and deprivation.

2. The dramatically changing and mobile nature of the population clearly creates greater urgency for more purposeful community engagement processes and accountability practices that fully incorporates the enormous diversity of differing policing needs.

3. The MPA’s Community Engagement Unit is in the process of broadening the array of consultation processes and methodologies by which the MPA can engage effectively with all Londoners and consult with all sectors of the population.

4. In addition to developing a more comprehensive range of community engagement approaches to ensure the MPA obtains the viewpoints of London’s diverse communities, the Community Engagement Unit is also beginning to implement the changing nature of the community engagement agenda from consultation and passive consent to real involvement. It is important in this context to emphasise that the community, is not merely an additional resource to the police to help them undertake policing. Community interest, engagement and influence upon crime and disorder priorities and resource allocation are an essential part of the community accountability and partnership processes that the Metropolitan Police Authority is actively pursuing.

5. An example of this partnership approach is the process the MPA has initiated with representatives of London’s disability communities, which is conservatively estimated to comprise of 1.7 million Londoners. This entails the commissioning of a background paper on policing issues affecting disabled people by Greater London Action on Disability (GLAD), which is a pan-London community based umbrella organisation of disabled people

6. The paper and key findings brings together existing reports, studies, references and recommendations that affect disabled people in London, highlighting major themes, issues and action areas on policing and disability. At the start of the EODB meeting Ossie Stuart of GLAD will outline some strategic direction and recommendations that in turn will help to inform the discussion at a community disability conference.

7. The result of this process will provide the basis for a MPA strategy on engaging with disabled people in London. In addition, this will add to the results of the two disabled community consultation exercises already undertaken by the MPS and assist in further informing the work of the Disability IAG which is presently being established by the MPS.

8. The conference entitled ‘Disabled People and the Police – A New Relationship?” on 7 October this year, will create an arena for disabled Londoners to explore issues and make recommendations on the findings of the research paper. The conclusions of the conference will then serve to inform the final strategy to be presented to the MPA.

C. Race and equality impact

The consultation processes being undertaken addresses issues that have a real impact upon the way the disabled community are consulted with on policing matters, and will focus on the particular policing issues and needs of London’s disabled communities. This will lead to disabled people having a greater voice and ensure policing is more sensitive to the needs of that community.

D. Financial implications

The revenue budget for the research paper and conference is contained within the Community Engagement budget.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Vicky Knight

For more information contact:

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

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback