Minutes

Minutes of the Equal Opportunity & Diversity Board held on 4 November 2004 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Kirsten Hearn (Chair)
• John Roberts (Deputy Chair)
• Cindy Butts
• Lynne Featherstone
• Peter Herbert
• Aneeta Prem

The Deputy Chair was in the Chair for part of the consideration of agenda items 6 and 9.

 Co-opted member

• Lee Jasper (Policy Director Equalities and Policing, Mayor’s Office)

Also in attendance for part of the meeting

• Karim Murji
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Ken Hunt (Deputy Treasurer)
• Hamida Ali (Policy Officer, Race and Diversity Unit)
• Doug Lewins (Policy Officer, Race and Diversity Unit)
• Bennett Obong (Project Manager, Race Hate Crime Forum)
• Vicky Knight (Consultation Coordinator, Community Engagement Unit)
• John Crompton (Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Commander Mick Messinger (TPHQ)
• Commander Ian Carter (MPS Strategic Planning)
• Commander Steve Allen (Diversity Director)
• Chris Haselden (Head of HR Strategic Management)
• Linda Van Den Hende (Director Strategic Disability Team)
• Chief Inspector Parm Sandhu

Commander Andy Baker and Carl Wonfer attended in connection with agenda item 10

Part 1

18. Introductions and apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

An apology for absence was received from Damian Hockney. Apologies were also submitted from Deputy Assistant Commissioner Carole Howlett.

19. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations were made.

20. Minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2004

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2004 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

Arising:

• Minute 10: Implementation of Recommendation 61
  John Roberts, lead member on Recommendation 61, briefly outlined the arrangements for the London wide roll out of Recommendation 61 which would now take place in mid November. The Clerk reported that the MPA’s stand had been widely used and was due to appear at the Annual Conference of the Association of Police Authorities. Lord Macpherson had indicated that he was satisfied with the arrangements the Authority were making.
• Minute 12: MPS Race Equality Scheme
  The Board noted that the CRE had now formally written to advise that the scheme was now deemed to be compliant and copies of the letter had been sent to members of the Board.
• Minute 14: Stop and Search scrutiny – process for implementation
  Lynne Featherstone, lead member on stop and search, said that as stated in the minutes the MPA sub-group which she chairs would consider points emerging from the MPS gold group. She would welcome guidance on how any issues should be dealt with which came from the gold group but which did not fall within the remit of the MPA group. The Chair said that if such issues arose then these should be referred to MPA officers and herself who would decide the best course of action.

21. Chair and members’ update

(Agenda item 4)

No updates were given.

22. Diversity issues of policing public order events

(Agenda item 5)

A report was submitted on the response of the MPS to the subject of diversity at public order events and the special arrangements to cater for those participants with particular needs and requirements.

The Chair commented that she did not think that the report dealt adequately with all aspects of this issue. For example, there was nothing about notifying the participants from particular communities about their rights.

Commander Messinger expanded on the report. Briefings were held with the event organisers and depending on the event attempts were made to ensure that the local residents and business communities were kept advised. There was also a de-briefing. Commander Messinger explained that there was a four page information and guidance leaflet which was sent to organisers and undertook to submit a copy for circulation to Board members.

Commander Allen explained that as part of the changes to the Diversity Directorate this responsibility for this activity would be carried out entirely within Territorial Policing.

Rachel Whittaker said that would be following up various points in her capacity as lead member for public order events.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

23. MPS Thematic Report on Race and Diversity - update

(Agenda item 6)

A report was submitted which outlined the present position of the MPS with regard to the progress being made in addressing the recommendations from the MPS thematic review of race and diversity in the Metropolitan Police Service undertaken by Assistant Commissioner Ghaffur.

With regard to recommendation 13 in the thematic review, concerning the National Recruit Selection Process, members expressed dissatisfaction that the view of Centrex that there is no significant adverse impact. The Director Strategic Disability Team reported that she was due to attend a meeting on 15 December at which she might be able to reiterate the view that London should be treated differently.

Resolved - That progress continues to be monitored through the co-ordinating group comprising MPS members, the Independent Advisory Group and the MPS Diversity Directorate.

24. Disabled people and the police – report on the recent community conference

(Agenda item 7)

The MPA commissioned Greater London Action on Disability to produce a report and hold a conference on policing issues affecting disabled people was submitted which provided details of a community conference which the MPA held on 7 October. A final version of the report is due to be considered by the Community Engagement Committee on 2 December.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

25. MPS implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act – general report

(Agenda item 8a)

A report was submitted which outlined the work carried out so far and that which is planned for the next quarter to ensure compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act and promotion of disability equality.

The Director of the Strategic Disability Team reported that the inaugural meeting of the Disability Advisory Group would be held on 2 December.

Resolved -That the report and proposals for future work be noted.

26. MPS implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act – police officers

(Agenda item 8b)

A report was submitted which gave details of the preparation for the extension of the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to police officers, revising a number of key HR processes and policies, including recruitment, promotion and workforce deployment. The report gave details of training and publicity.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

27. Equality impact assessment review update

(Agenda item 9)

A report was submitted which provided an update on the progress with the development of the Equality Impact Assessment process that is currently under review.

Resolved - That the progress be noted and the guidance and proforma be approved for consultation.

28. Race Hate Crime Forum update

(Agenda item 10)

A report was provided which provided an update on the progress and work of the Race Hate Crime Forum. It also included an example of partnership working.

Peter Herbert said that as Chair of the Forum he wished to thank the Co-coordinator and Administrator for their hard work in carrying forward the work of the Forum. He felt that the good progress that had been made showed the value of establishing the Forum.

Resolved - that the report be noted

The Chair referred to the series of violent attacks and thefts that had taken place on the South Bank during the previous Friday night, which had included the brutal murder of David Morley, an openly gay man. The Chair said she also wished to comment on some of the reaction to the event which had come from within the LGBT community. She thought that it was ill-directed and it was too simplistic to concentrate on the single issue of anti- gay song lyrics and said that in her view this was only a very small part of the equation.

Lee Jasper reported that the Mayor had condemned the murder and all homophobic violence. Mr Jasper also said that in his capacity as Chair of the Lambeth CPCG, the borough where the incidents had taken place, he wished to report that the CPCG had condemned the murder at its meeting held on the previous day.

Commander Andy Baker and Carl Wonfer attended for consideration of this item and provided information on the investigation into the murder of David Morley and the other incidents which had taken place at around the same time. He said that from the onset the murder had been treated as a homophobic crime. As an integral part of the police response there had been considerable contact with the LGBT community to provide reassurance both in London and also nationally. Following the examination of CCTV recordings a number of leads had been followed up and an announcement about arrests would be made later that afternoon.

John Roberts asked that it be noted that he was on the gold group, which had been set up following these incidents.

The Chair referred to a candlelight vigil in memory of David Morley that had been arranged for the evening of 5 November, which she would be attending. Commander Baker said he also wished to stress that the police were working closely with the organisers of the vigil in Soho to ensure that a dignified event could be held.

The Board then stood in silence for two minutes in memory of David Morley and all victims of hate crimes.

29. EODB work programme

(Agenda item 11)

A report was submitted which provided recommendations on the future work programme of the Board and the terms of reference

The Clerk confirmed that having identified those items which were to appear in the work plan, the next stage was to consider the way in which these things would be looked at –e.g. scrutiny or written report.

A member commented that procurement was a very important issue given the spending power of the MPS and that it should be considered sooner than year 3 so that members could be satisfied that the diversity aspects were being correctly addressed.

Resolved - that

1. the work plan be agreed subject to procurement being considered earlier in the programme;
2. consideration be given to the appointment of further co-opted members in connection with the work programme; and
3. the revised terms of reference be referred to the full Authority for ratification.

30. Gender issues – within the MPS

(Agenda item 12a)

This report outlines the various pieces of work that have been devised and implemented by the MPS to support women in the organisation. It highlights the main themes and recommendations to emerge from the recent ‘Dancing on the Glass Ceiling’ events. The report also highlights that gender related work would be co-ordinated through the inception of a single work programme. This work programme will address the issues raised at the events and apply timescales and responsible owners to each action. This programme of work will generate activity across the organisation and it will have the flexibility to incorporate matters that arise from the Morris Inquiry as well as the work that is already being progressed by a variety of related MPS forums and groups.

With regard to recommendation 4, Cindy Butts (MPA lead member on women’s issues) said she would be pleased to put her name forward as the EODB member to participate in the MPS gender issues action group.

Resolved – That

1. the report on the ‘Dancing on the Glass Ceiling’ events be noted:
2. it be noted that a work programme is being developed around the five key themes identified from the ‘Dancing on the Glass Ceiling’ events: Recruitment, retention and progression, development and support, flexible working, caring responsibilities, communication plus a sixth theme of organisational development.
3. the coordination of actions, arising from the ‘Dancing on the Glass Ceiling’ events, and all other gender related project work, through a single work programme led by Denise Milani (Deputy Head of the Diversity Directorate) and Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) Carole Howlett to report to the MPS Strategic Diversity Board be endorsed; and
4. Cindy Butts be the member nominated to participate in the MPS Gender Issues Action Group to take these matters forward.

31. Gender issues – external focus

(Agenda item 12b)

A report was submitted which explained the work of the Women and Policing Group. It outlined the initiatives being undertaken to improve the delivery of policing services to women as victims, offenders and witnesses and to enhance the quality of interaction between police and women in all London’s communities.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

32. Presentation and discussion on gender

(Agenda item 13)

Standing Orders were suspended for the consideration of this item. Denise Milani made a presentation which dealt with the follow up to Dancing on the Glass Ceiling and Parm Sandhu made a presentation on the external issues.

Following the presentation, the Chair invited representatives of women’s community groups and MPS staff associations who were present to contribute to the discussion.

Ross Crabbe from the MPS PCS union stated that she had not been prepared for the format of the meeting and said she would need more notice to be able to raise any issues of concern to her members. Betty Foster the Director of the Standing Together project indicated that her organisation would welcome the opportunity to discuss some areas of concern.

It was agreed that the discussion on gender be re-arranged to a time to be arranged which would appear to suit the potential participants

The meeting closed at 4.37 p.m.

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