Consultation within the Safer Schools Programme: Implementation of Recommendation 61

Report: 10
Date: 10 January 2005
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report explains how the MPS will build community consultation into their Safer Schools Partnership, with particular reference to the use of stop and search within the schools population.

A. Recommendations

That

1. Members comment on the plans for community consultation within the Safer Schools Partnerships and how this will impact on Stop and Search, including Recommendation 61.

B. Supporting information

Overview

1. The Safer Schools Partnership was set up in July 2002 with the overall aim of reducing crime amongst young people, reduce the number of incidents and crimes in schools, to make schools safer and more secure whilst enhancing the learning environment so young people might achieve their full potential. Fundamentally it aims at engaging young people and assist them develop a respect for themselves and their community.

2. There are currently 136 Safer Schools Officers engaged in partnerships in 247 secondary schools across London. In total 30 London boroughs have engaged in Safer School Partnerships with the last two boroughs due to come on-line in late December.

Engaging with the School Community on Stop and Search and Recommendation 61

3. There is currently no Safer School activity around Recommendation 61 and Stop and Search. The Safer Schools Unit has been closely involved in the consultation around implementing Recommendation 61, but there is currently little proactivity around this important area. It is recognised that Safer Schools have a key role in the MPS delivering increased public confidence in their use of these important powers. As a result, the following areas are being explored in engaging with young people and other members of the school community.

4. The most obvious means of ensuring information about Stop and Search and Recommendation 61 is accessible to schools is through the Safer Schools website. This important resource is accessible to all schools, students, teachers and police officers alike. It is used as a resource centre and is increasingly the first point of contact for schools looking for information about the police.

5. The Safer Schools website will be updated in the New Year to include information on Recommendation 61 and Stop and Search. Safer Schools officers will then promote the updated site within their schools.

6. The views of school students, staff and other members of the school community can be captured through the use of youth surveys, school councils, parliaments or forums and school based youth groups.

7. There is potential to design and deliver Stop and Search and Recommendation 61 training within Secondary Schools using Physical Health & Social Education (PHSE) tutors. PHSE lessons vary in length, but are usually an hour a week.

8. There is the possibility of utilising members of the Voluntary Cadet Corps (VSS) to distribute the Association of Police Associations (APA) ‘Stop and Search - Know your Right’ booklets to young people - youth engagement by youth. In this way the message can be directed more accurately to specific young people.

9. These booklets and other promotional material can also be distributed using schools officers and routes through the Department for Education and Science and Local Education Authorities. There is also the potential to exploit the ties between schools and community centres.

10. One effective way would be to engage with the teaching unions (NUT, NAS etc).

Planning the way forward

11. Many of the ideas detailed above can be turned into action relatively quickly. Changes to the Internet site, distribution of the booklets and raising awareness amongst School Officers can be delivered in the short term, certainly by April 2005. However, introducing subjects into the schools curriculum has to be planned terms in advance. To deliver a fully coordinated, linked and supported lesson around Stop and Search and Recommendation 61 issues within the PHSE curriculum work will need to be started in January for a September 2005 start. This timescale is important as it allows for relevant topics to be built in to the PHSE lesson plan. There is also the need for all education packages to be verified as suitable for the particular educational ‘key stages’.

12. This work will be progressed in the new year, by both Safer Schools and Territorial Policing (TP) Modernising Operations. It is anticipated that a benchmarking survey will conducted before any training is delivered to gauge the success of the project. As this work progresses the Stop and Search Steering Group will be updated through the Stop and Search Working Group.

C. Race and equality impact

1. The use of Stop and Search powers and the requirement to record Stop and Accounts is likely to have a significant impact on young people, particularly from the Black and Asian communities. Lord Scarman attributed the Brixton riots to “an outburst of anger and resentment by young black people” at the insensitive use of the powers. There continues to be disproportionately high numbers of Black and Asian people being stopped by police. Muslims have the youngest age profile of all the religious groups with 34% under the age of 16 in 2001, followed closely by the Sikh 25% and Hindu communities with 21%. Currently stops and searches involving 10 to 17 year olds make up 39% of the total number of stops and searches within London.

2. For Recommendation 61 and Stop and Search to have a positive impact on community confidence, the views of young people have to be sought and heard by the MPS. Part of the role of community consultation within schools is to collect the views of young people. Furthermore, the Safer Schools Partnerships have the potential to deliver a two-way conduit between the police and young people.

3. The equality impact of Stop and Search and Recommendation 61 has been documented in previous reports. Each Borough Operational Command Unit (BOCU) is currently undertaking local impact assessments specifically around Recommendation 61 and Stop and Search as directed by Recommendation 11 of the MPA Stop and Search Scrutiny Report. Guidance is being sent highlighting the need for boroughs to consult with young people.

D. Financial implications

The progression of this work will resourced out of existing TPHQ budgets.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Commander Bob Broadhurst, TPHQ

For more information contact:

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

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