Stop and Search Scrutiny Implementation Panel

Report: 11
Date: 10 January 2005
By: Clerk

Summary

This report provides the Board with an update on the progress of the member-led panel leading oversight of all 55 recommendations made by the MPA scrutiny on MPS stop and search practice.

A. Recommendations

That the Board notes the progress of the panel.

B. Supporting information

1. As part of the responsibilities of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board (EODB) to scrutinise areas of police performance that have a specific impact on equality and diversity issues, the MPA approved the need for a scrutiny to be undertaken to address the disproportionality of stop and search rates.

2. The report of the MPA Scrutiny on MPS Stop and Search Practice was published on 4 May 2004. The scrutiny made 55 recommendations for action by the MPS, MPA and 12 other public authorities across government sectors.

3. The MPS has established mechanisms to enable progress against the 32 recommendations which apply specifically to itself. This work is led by the Stop and Search Steering Group, chaired by DAC Howlett and includes MPA representation (John Roberts), external advisers, and Cecile Wright, chair of the scrutiny panel.

5. However, 23 recommendations require action by organisations other than the MPS. Therefore, a structure was required to enable members to oversee responses to both MPS specific, and wider recommendations providing a global overview of progress across the issues highlighted by the scrutiny panel.

6. The role of this group is to co-ordinate and lead oversight of, and progress against, the full 55 recommendations from the Scrutiny on Stop and Search, and to report to the EODB at each meeting.

7. The panel has now met twice and the following documents are attached:

• Appendix 1: Terms of reference
• Appendix 2: Minutes, meeting 21 October 2004

8. The panel is pursuing a programme of thematic meetings tackling a number of themes including:

• Stop and search policy
• Supervision
• Feedback and Complaints Resolution
• Training
• Monitoring Mechanisms

At each meeting, the panel will discuss a theme with colleagues from the MPS together with representatives from the relevant external agency in order to progress work against the recommendations made by the scrutiny.

The panel will also seek to involve witnesses to the scrutiny at meetings to ensure that the panel continues to be informed by the views of those affected by the practice.

C. Race and equality impact

The scrutiny panel has contributed significantly to the MPA’s efforts to recommend approaches to stop and search which reduce perceptions of discriminatory police practice and increase levels of trust and confidence in the police among black and minority ethnic communities.

Members must feel confident that all 55 recommendations are progressed adequately and within appropriate timescales in order to continue to work to positively affect low levels of confidence in the MPS among black and minority ethnic communities.

D. Financial implications

The administration of this group will be met by the MPA from existing budgets.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Hamida Ali

For more information contact:

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

Appendix 1: Terms of Reference

Purpose

• To lead implementation of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) Scrutiny on Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Stop and Search Practice on behalf of Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board (EODB)
• To scrutinise progress by the MPS against the 32 scrutiny recommendations for which they have responsibility on behalf of EODB
• To lead implementation of the 25 recommendations involving engagement with statutory and voluntary partners, on behalf of EODB

Accountability

• The panel is a sub-group of EODB and works on its behalf to lead implementation of the scrutiny recommendations
• The MPS will report to the panel on any aspect of its response to the scrutiny recommendations. Any issues which the panel cannot resolve, will be referred to EODB for decision. The panel will report to EODB through written and verbal updates at committee.

Membership

• MPA Members:
  • Lynne Featherstone (Chair)
  • Peter Herbert
  • Damian Hockney
  • Karim Murji
  • John Roberts

Panel

• The panel will hold public meetings monthly.
• Panel meetings will be structured to ensure part of each meeting will involve discussion with MPS colleagues and an external agency referenced in the scrutiny report.
• The panel will seek to involve witnesses to the scrutiny in order to track improvement

Appendix 2: Minutes, Meeting 1, 21st October 2004

MPA Scrutiny on MPS Stop and Search Practice
EODB Sub Group Meeting 1

Present

• Lynne Featherstone
• Hamida Ali
• Cynthia Coleman
• Gavin Lim
• Damian Hockney
• John Roberts

Absent

• Peter Herbert

1 Terms of Reference and ways of working

1.1 A draft Terms of Reference was tabled for discussion:

1.2 Comments on “Group Purpose”

1.2.1 It was agreed that that the panel would:

• lead the scrutiny of the MPS response to the MPA Stop and Search Scrutiny Recommendations.
• identify success from an MPA perspective e.g. measurement of arrest rate

1.3 Comments on “Ways of working”

1.3.1 It was agreed that the group would:

• meet monthly in public (although it was acknowledged that part of the meeting could be closed if MPS officers were unable to discuss particular topics openly)
• be timetabled for 3 hours – an hour for member discussion, an hour for focused discussion with MPS and an hour for focused discussion with an external agency.
• aim to approach the recommendations thematically although it was felt this required further thought once the recommendations had been disaggregated according to agency and priority – an analysis of recommendations to be presented to members before the next meeting.
• work closely with MPA Communications Unit to ensure that press releases are issued appropriately, in particular when external partners and former witnesses to the scrutiny are attending the panel. Both Lynne Featherstone and John Roberts were happy to issue quotations. Members also discussed press coverage in internal MPS / MPA communications to raise the profile of the panel’s work.

1.4 Comments on “Panel life”

1.4.1 Members agreed that given the substantial change required by the MPS to respond adequately to the recommendations, the panel would need to work across the full term of the authority.

1.5 Comments on “Membership”

1.5.1 Membership would include MPA members:

• Peter Herbert
• Damian Hockney
• Lynne Featherstone
• John Roberts
• Karim Murji (following discussion at Full Authority, 28th October 2004).
• Race and Diversity Unit Officers

1.5.2 MPS officers will report progress of implementation against the recommendations laid out in the Stop and Search Scrutiny Report to the panel by invitation in closed session if appropriate.

1.5.3 More than 12 other statutory and voluntary organisations are also referenced in the recommendations. Representatives from these organisations will be invited to meetings to explore their work in relation to the scrutiny recommendations.

1.5.4 Witnesses to the original scrutiny would also be approached for feedback in order to provide a qualitative measure of improvement.

2 Scrutiny Recommendations

2.1 Members were keen to push forward the response to the recommendations through developing measurable quantitative indicators for instance arrest, charge and conviction rates, and qualitative measures, for example Londoners’ experiences of stop and search.

2.1 MPS Vision – Members examined the Internal Consultancy Group Vision document. Members accepted the majority of the vision however were concerned that disproportionality was felt to be a central theme of the scrutiny and yet barely featured in the document and did not feature explicitly in the headlines of the vision.

2.1.4 Members agreed that feedback to the MPS should include a further headline to the vision

“to eliminate racial bias through stop and search practice and therefore have a positive impact on disproportionality”

2.1.5 Members spent some time exploring how the experience of stop and search could be measured and tested. Discussion included ‘mystery shopping’ and potential use of the new MPA Safer London Panel.

3 MPS Progress to date

3.1 MPS structures

3.1.1 Territorial Policing Modernising Operations has responsibility for this area of work led by Commander Bob Broadhurst.

3.1.2 Members were informed that the MPS Stop and Search Working Group, chaired by Cecile Wright, is developing work on individual recommendations via themes (including Stop and Search Policy, Supervision, Feedback and Complaints Resolution, Training and Monitoring Mechanisms). Individual boroughs are represented on this group

3.1.3 The MPS Stop and Search Working Group reports directly to the MPS Steering Group chaired by Carole Howlett. GLA, Home Office and community members are represented together with MPS (Territorial Policing, Diversity Directorate and DCC1)

3.1.4 Members were clear that the MPS Stop and Search Steering Group would report directly to this panel, not Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board (EODB).

3.1.5 Updates, issues of concern and matters for decision would be referred to EODB by the panel.

3.1.6 Members were keen to maintain the parameters of their inquiry strictly within the lines of the scrutiny. However, members recognised that the panel’s views on work linked to Recommendations 61 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report, and increasing concerns within Muslim communities that they are affected disproportionately by stop and search under the counter terrorism legislation, may inform wider MPA perspectives.

4 Actions

4.1 A list of recommendations according to the relevant external partner for consideration by members and according to proposed priorities

4.2 Copies of report with covering letter to be sent to each multi-agency partner introducing the scrutiny report, the member panel, referencing the relevant recommendation(s) and inviting them to a future meeting for panel discussion. Letter to Cecile Wright as former chair of the scrutiny panel introducing the work of the new member panel and introduction to future meeting.

4.3 Provide feedback to the MPS on panel view of ICG Vision document and put forward suggested amendments.

4.4 Provide a schematic for the panel on MPA representation via member and officers on the range of ‘groups’ and lines of accountability

5 Dates for Future Meetings

• 22 November 2004 10:00– Meeting Room 1, DFS
• 10 January 2005 10:00 – Meeting Room 1, DFS

The IPCC will be attending therefore the proposed theme is Feedback and Complaints Resolution

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback