Stop and Search Scrutiny Implementation Panel

Report: 10
Date: 10 March 2005
By: Clerk

Summary

This report provides EODB 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, which is now chaired by DAC Brian Paddick, following DAC Carole Howlett’s secondment to Norfolk Constabulary as Acting Chief Constable.

4. 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 EODB at each meeting.

7. 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.

8. The panel has now met four times. The minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2005 are attached as Appendix 1.

9. The most recent panel meeting was held on 17 February where the focus was monitoring of MPS stop and search practice. Two key issues arising from the meeting were members’ discussions around:

• Corporate responsibility for stop and search practice within the MPS
• MPS response to the Mayor’s representation regarding monitoring of stop and search practice according to religion.

10. Recommendation 20 of the MPA Stop and Search Scrutiny pointed to a lack of clear corporate responsibility in relation to stop and search practice. There was no one identified business group within the MPS acting as the focus from either a borough or central directorate perspective. Panel members were keen to hear the range of work ongoing to progress responses to the issues raised by the scrutiny around monitoring. However, panel members remain concerned that although this area of work is currently based within Modernising Operations, TPHQ, there is no strong indicator that this will be the corporate base for this work in the long-term.

11. Monitoring of stop and search practice according to religion has been raised with the previous Commissioner by the Mayor following representations to him by a range of organisations. In response the MPS has established a sub group to focus specifically on the issue of monitoring stop and search by faith in order to establish how strongly communities in London would support this initiative, and to explore the challenges this work may pose.

12. Panel members were informed that the two meetings held by this sub-group revealed opposing views among the small number of community members who attended the group. Feedback from the Home Office indicated a split in community views following their initial consultation on the issue. Panel members were informed that a paper would be presented to both the MPS Stop and Search Steering Group and Management Board on possible options.

13. The Stop and Search Scrutiny Implementation Panel meets next on March 23 at 10:00 at the MPA’s offices in Meeting Room 1.

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

• Panel Terms of Reference
• Minutes, 10th January 2005

F. Contact details

Report author: Hamida Ali

For more information contact:

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

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