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Contents

Report 6a of the 2 February 2006 meeting of the Equal Opportunities & Diversity Board and provides information of the actions taken by the MPS to address and promote diversity and equal opportunities regarding the delivery of services to older people both as users of MPS services and as employees of the MPS.

Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).

See the MOPC website for further information.

Age equality and the MPS

Report: 06a
Date: 2 February 2006
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides information to the committee of the actions taken by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to address and promote diversity and equal opportunities regarding the delivery of services to older people both as users of MPS services and as employees of the MPS.

A. Recommendations

That Members note the report.

B. Supporting information

Service Delivery

2. This report considers the wider implications of how services are delivered to people who are older and who may have special needs. This section provides information from Serious Crime Directorate and Territorial Policing Service and covers a number of areas: context; older people as victims of crime; access to police stations; older people and detention; and consultation and engagement. As the report moves through these issues it provides examples of current practice from boroughs across London.

Context

3. The MPS has a duty to provide services that are accessible to all. Since the publication of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report the Metropolitan Police Service has structured service delivery by identifying the needs of individuals and providing services appropriate to them. In making these decisions officers are required to take into account what would make a person more vulnerable and what might require them to provide additional support.

4. From a service delivery perspective this has required us to consider how age might impact particularly on people’s needs and how these might be addressed. To date there has been considerable work on this, which has been driven corporately by the Racial and Violent Crime Task Force and locally by Community Safety Plans. With specific reference to older peoples services there are five sets of people who provide specific roles:

  1. The Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate provide advice and leadership with reference to service provision. They use the Greater London Authorities definitions of diversity and have a strand working specifically on age.
  2. Borough Commanders set the tone of how services are delivered on their Borough Operational Command Units (BOCUs) and this is set in partnership with other agencies through their Community Safety Plans. These plans are written taking account of considerable consultation.
  3. Community Safety Units exist on all 32 Boroughs in London and provide an enhanced level of service to victims of Hate Crime and Domestic Violence. They are, through their training and the focus of their work, key in delivery of specialist services to people who become victims of crime as the result of a vulnerability, which others exploit.
  4. Crime Prevention Officers and Crime Prevention Design Analysts are specialist officers who have undertaken accredited additional training to be able to identify approaches to reduce the risks of crime and provide specific advice to individuals.
  5. Safer Neighbourhood Teams are dedicated teams of officers who have specific responsibilities to work with local communities to address issues of fear of crime, vulnerability, disorder and criminality.

5. There is a fundamental position that age alone does not make people vulnerable or in need of additional services. However, disabilities and dependencies often associated with age may. It is the intention of the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure our services are accessible to all.

6. Policy is therefore developed around the needs of individuals and ensuring they are identified by our staff. Below the term disability is used however, the onus here is on understanding how a number of changes in people as they age may add up to what would otherwise be considered a physical disability or mental health issue.

7. People are living longer and therefore the older population is growing. The birth rate in this country continues to fall and there is significant migration into this country to help balance the needs of specific skills within the working population. This means the older population is less diverse than younger populations and is less likely to have experienced the range of cultural differences that exist these days.

8. Issues of demographics and diversity mixed with those of health and increased feelings of vulnerability mean that our most important work must be around how we protect those people who are or may become victims of crime. Many older people have specific needs and these are addressed through initiatives and reports, in particular ‘No Secrets’ and up coming legislation to avoid discrimination.

Older people as victims of crime

9. This section will deal with people who are abused or subjected to attacks because of their age (Hate Crimes), those people who are subjected to specific crime because of their vulnerability and generic issues of fear of crime and reassurance.

Hate crime

10. Some people are attacked or abused as a direct result of their age, for which there are two specific policies the first relates to Hate Crime and the second to Vulnerable Adults.

11. The Hate Crime policy and Standard Operating Procedures deal, amongst other hate crime, with those crimes committed against a victim because of a mental or physical disability. The Metropolitan Police Service use the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 definition of a disability as 'Physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on an individual's ability to carry out his/her normal day to day activities’. It is difficult and inappropriate to say that just because someone reaches a certain age they would fit these criteria hence it would need to be established on a case-by-case basis.

12. The Community Safety Unit will deal with any hate crime, where the motivation, or primary element of the offence is because of the victim’s disability. However, a victim of crime who is disabled but not targeted because of their disability will often be referred to mainstream services. Below is more detail about actual service provision and it will be shown that in many cases such victims will receive a range of other services.

13. Our other policy concerns vulnerable adult abuse which specifically covers those abused by someone who is their carer in some capacity such as a residential home nurse, full time carer or family member, for example a residential home nurse neglecting a resident. A new policy for Vulnerable Adult Abuse was introduced on the 1 December 2004 to deal with this issue. The Community Safety Unit will also deal with allegations of Vulnerable Adult Abuse. This extends the additional emphasis we put on Domestic Violence as it mirrors much of the approach taken to protect victims from abuse within the home. The Domestic Violence policy is also used where the victim of domestic violence or abuse is an elder member of the family. Again the Community Safety Unit will investigate these allegations.

14. Monitoring of these policies is carried out by the Racial and Violent Crime Task Force at Territorial Policing Headquarters. The numbers of cases are relatively low and so figures of less than one year are not sufficiently significant to be discussed. The last analysis of crime against vulnerable adults was carried out for the financial year 2004 to 2005 in the form of a strategic scope of Vulnerable Adult Abuse.

15. During that period 507 crimes and a further 34 intelligence reports were submitted and marked as referring to Vulnerable Adults. 79% of these cases referred to incidents involving vulnerable adults, 20% were allegations of Vulnerable Adult Abuse and 1% referred to cases of Hate Crime. These figures refer to a wide range of causes of vulnerability including physical disability, mental health, illness and Age. However, the largest proportion of reports give age as the reason for vulnerability.

16. Abuse is classified into five areas:

  • Physical – For example assaults, inappropriate force when restraining the victim, giving inappropriate medication or inappropriate doses of medication
  • Psychological – Including verbal abuse, threats or preventing the victim leaving the premises
  • Financial – Illegal or unauthorised use of a person’s property, money, pension book or other valuables
  • Sexual – Forcing a person to take part in any sexual activity without his or her consent
  • Neglect – Where a person’s basic needs are not met, these include warmth, food, essential medication or comfort

17. Where age was a factor in vulnerability, the majority of cases referred to physical abuse (126 cases), then financial (78 cases), then psychological (51 cases) then neglect (3 cases) and the smallest were sexual (2 cases). The majority of victims were female (70%), white European (80%) and subjected to the abuse in their home address (73%). Incidents are spread across London with most Boroughs recording between 10 and 20 cases in the year, the highest being in Southwark, Enfield, Camden and Barnet and the lowest in Redbridge, Bexley, Richmond and Merton.

18. Where age leads to the vulnerability, the suspects for carrying out the abuse provide a different profile than that of other vulnerable abuse cases. In 38% of the cases the suspect is shown as a child and in 34% of cases the care provider. It is the very difficult relationship and dependency issues, which mean these cases need to be dealt with the utmost care and by officers from the Community Safety Unit. The specialist training that these officers receive and the experience that they have of working in the area of domestic violence provides them with additional skills and the ability to build working relationships with other agencies that can support them in their work.

19. Metropolitan Police commitment to investigating crimes against the elderly is shown in the support of Operation Minstead, which is an ongoing investigation into the rape of elderly females in South East London. Good practice learned from this operation is being included within the syllabus of the sexual offences courses at Hendon Training School. To put context on these figures, of a total of 7180 rapes in London from 2003 to 2006, 65 involved females aged over 60.

20. Those rapes fitting the criteria for Operation Minstead are treated as ‘critical incidents’ and investigated by the Serious Crime Directorate. An accredited Family Liaison Officer is appointed at the earliest opportunity to support, inform and gather evidence. Some older victims can be fiercely independent and undemanding, generally reluctant to ask for assistance or information for fear of being considered a ‘nuisance’. To overcome this, a model that involves the wider family (son, daughter, niece etc) is promoted to identify concerns/issues that have not been raised directly. Operation Minstead has over a period of time established links with the elderly communities through a Gold Group elderly community representative, presentations to local Community Centres within targeted offending areas, Age Concern Groups and indirectly through Independent Police Community Consultative Groups.

Examples of working practice:

  • All Boroughs comply with the Metropolitan Police Service Policy on Vulnerable Adults and the Racial and Violent Crime Task Force take specific responsibility for ensuring compliance and monitoring the quality of work across London.
  • Kingston has a dedicated officer within the Community Safety Unit who works just on cases involving vulnerable adults. The focus one person can bring over a longer period ensures good personal relationships exist with partner agencies and there is ownership of the crime problem.
  • Westminster has a named detective sergeant who is responsible for all vulnerable adult cases. They have identified an issue of domestic violence in older people and are working with the Policing Standards Agency on a pilot project to reduce repeat victimisation.
  • Camden has a multi agency third party reporting scheme for vulnerable adults.

Other crimes as a result of vulnerability

21. In addition to abuse there are other crimes where the victim’s age may be a factor. For many years it has been recognised that older people are disproportionately targeted for distraction crimes of deception and artifice burglary.

22. Metropolitan Police data on this type of crime show that almost 50% of victims of artifice burglary are between the ages of 80 and 89. In fact, victims aged between 70 and 99 years of age make up 84.5% of all distraction burglary victims.

23. In addition to having dedicated intelligence analysts working on this crime to identify series and target those responsible, a high priority is put on reducing this crime through local information, training and support systems. On a recent review of 11 Boroughs all were found to have specific initiatives to provide crime prevention advice to older people specifically about this type of crime.

Examples of working practice:

  • Territorial Policing Crime Directorate carry out on going analysis of distraction burglary and through tasking processes ensure that activity is carried out within Boroughs and where series across London occur that organisational resources are tasked.
  • Barking and Dagenham carry out Distraction Burglary Road shows, which they provide at a range of venues, drop in centres, libraries and other venues with good access for people.
  • Kensington and Chelsea organise an annual stay safe week which includes theatre group work on issues around bogus callers.
  • Westminster runs an annual programme of visits to Age Concern centres to focus on issues including Bogus Callers and distraction burglary.
  • In Tower Hamlets the Crime Prevention Officers’ main activity is continually developing new approaches to reduce distraction burglary, looking at trends and specifically taking action to protect any people who are repeat victims.
  • Hillingdon organised a series of theatre plays/presentations for the elderly, which focused on distraction burglaries and making people safer in their homes. Approximately 400 people attended these and they were very well received. The intention is to run a further series. The next phase will also include elder abuse.

24. There have been a number of cases of older people being subjected to robbery and targeted due to their perceived vulnerability. Whilst these cases are shocking and unacceptable they are rare. The vast majority of victims of robbery are young people.

25. Analysis of Metropolitan Police data on personal robbery crimes shows that 44% of victims of personal robbery are between the ages of 10 and 19. Victims aged between 70 and 99 years of age make up only 2% of all personal robbery crimes.

26. The Crime Academy delivers training to detective and other investigative officers across a variety of skill areas. The following courses deliver specific information or lessons that deal with the elderly.

  • Achieving Best Evidence: Foundation and Advanced Courses
  • Sexual Offences Investigative Techniques course
  • Community Safety Unit course
  • Missing Persons [In partnership with Territorial Policing]; recording and investigation of vulnerable missing persons.
  • Vulnerable Victim/Witness - Detective Foundation Course -The Detective Foundation course has key learning points running throughout the course rather than a set lesson. It delivers best practice from Operation Minstead, evidence gathering from elderly (but not vulnerable) victims through use of pre prepared statements, use of appropriate adults to assist the elderly, impact assessment for elderly neighbours when targeting an offender or conducting search of premises, evidence gathering from elderly victims of distraction burglary together with prevention of repeat offences and preparation of child or elderly victims/ witness for court using Court Witness Service.
  • Management of Serious Crime Course, Detective Inspector and Detective Sergeants; support to vulnerable groups following sudden bereavement, the role of the coroners officer and partnership working with support agencies such as Help the Aged.

Examples of working practice:

  • At Christmas, Westminster ran an initiative at Post Offices distributing the 'Supplementary Fuel Payments' to pensioners. Police and Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) were tasked with attending the venues at appropriate times to provide physical presence to deter potential criminals, provide reassurance and give crime prevention advice.
  • In Wandsworth a pilot scheme was run using Safer Neighbourhood Teams to visit all elderly persons on Lavender Hill ward to make contact. They offered crime prevention advice and identified those who may have been in need of help from the police or other agencies.
  • The Westminster Crime and Disorder Reduction Team are working with the local ‘Strategic Partnership Older Persons' Network’ to provide small, voluntary agencies that work with older people a small grant that provides them with the capacity to add a 'crime prevention' element to an existing project or service that they run. This is funded through the Police Property Asset Fund.
  • As part of Hillingdon’s Policing Plan presentations to staff a film about an investigation that had gone particularly well was made; focussing on police work and the impact crime has on victims. A distraction burglary suspect was chosen who was particularly violent and targeted the elderly. The film contained footage from the staff that attended the crimes scenes through to the secondary investigators. Two elderly victims took part. The footage was excellent, particularly the accounts given by the victims. When it was shown to staff the footage had a large impact and received excellent feedback. Hendon Training School have taken a copy and they are considering whether it could be shown to all the new recruits

Reassurance and Fear of Crime

27. Being the victim of crime is only part of the problem as one of the feelings that comes with reduced strength and mobility is an increase in fear of crime. Considerable activity takes places to provide additional reassurance. Boroughs have free lock fitting services for older residents, which were being provided in partnership with other agencies and local authorities.

28. In addition to this home security there are a range of initiatives to provide advice to older people when they are going about their daily lives. Again this is often delivered in partnership with other agencies. One key partner that many are working with is the local authority ‘Meals on Wheels’ services, which are often used as a method of passing information to and from older people.

Examples of working practice:

  • Southwark used their National Regeneration Fund working with the Health Authority to recruit two Crime Prevention Officers who work only on issues relating to older people. They work with local Community Nurses, Meals on Wheels and a wide range of voluntary groups to provide advice and have access to funds to help enhance security in peoples’ homes.
  • Kensington and Chelsea ‘Safer Senior Project’ has Crime Prevention Officers (CPO’s) training PSCO’s to provide security home checks and has an intergenerational initiative - which has amongst other things produced a video involving young and old to try and improve understanding.
  • Sutton has joint initiatives with partners to improve the well being of the elderly, including initiatives on health, burglary, fear of crime and fire safety.
  • In Westminster the ‘Queens Park Safer Neighbourhood Team’ have an initiative to assist elderly and vulnerable residents by ‘target hardening’ their premises. This is done using local volunteers to tidy overgrown gardens thereby allowing visibility of the premises at street level and reducing opportunist burglary. They also attend Neighbourhood Centres engaging with the elderly and providing reassurance and crime prevention advice.

Access to Police Stations

29. Provision of Services for older people at police stations follows the same principle of need. Many of our police stations are old and are in need of replacement. However, many buildings are now Disability Discrimination Act compliant and in future all new facilities will be. In addition, a number of out reach type services are run in the form of volunteers opening up old front offices and other venues for advice and support. These are particularly relevant to older people as they tend to focus on advice and support and volunteers are often retired.

30. Service Provision is being extended through the use of Telephone Investigation Bureaux. These reduce the times when people will need to travel. Many Boroughs regularly attend ‘Drop In’ and residential facilities to provide advice and assistance as required.

31. As part of the MPS Criminal Justice Directorate work on Victim Care all Boroughs now have ‘Victim and Witness Liaison Officers’ whose role is to ensure that people receive information and support when they are victims and witnesses. All Boroughs have Victim Support Schemes and referrals are encouraged where victims are elderly whether or not a case is being progressed.

Examples of working practice:

  • In Lewisham there is within the Witness Care Unit a dedicated Victim Support Officer to ensure support is provided immediately. The Criminal Justice Unit Manager reviews all charge cases and where a victim/witness is elderly they are referred to this Victim Support Officer.
  • In Hillingdon Vulnerable victims and witnesses are provided with special measures if they are required at court. This is organised between the Criminal Justice Unit (CJU) and the Victim Support Scheme
  • ‘Hillingdon Homes’, a social landlord, have funded two PCSO’s and part of the Service Level Agreement is for the PCSO’s to pay regular visits to sheltered homes to provide direct services to older people.

Older people and detention

32. As with all parts of the community older people are at times arrested for offences. Similar to the discussion about vulnerability from victimisation it is not the age which is considered as the issue but the needs of the individual. Neither the Police and Criminal Evidence Act Codes of Practice nor the Custody Standard Operating Practice contain specific references in relation to older people held within police custody. There are however, relevant parts in both documents that will apply to older persons who have some special requirements (as it would to other categories of detained persons). The Codes of Practice covers such areas as: -

  1. The provision of appropriate adults for special groups of detained persons, this may include elderly persons.
  2. Clinical treatment and attention.

The Custody Standard Operating Practice includes: -

  1. The risk assessment process, where any risks/needs connected with age should be identified.
  2. Medical care of detained persons, which caters for a wide range of medical conditions and gives specific directions regarding urgent medical treatment.

33. Beyond this the Custody Directorate are working with the Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate and the Metropolitan Police Authority Disability Oversight Group on facilities for disabled persons within custody including "appropriate advocates" and "personal assistants", which again may be relevant to older persons.

Examples of working practice:

  • Westminster has a project using custody nurses to provide support to their busy custody suites. These nurses are able to provide pastoral care for elder people who have been arrested and who may be disorientated by the process.
  • Hillingdon fund ‘Mind’ to provide appropriate adults for vulnerable and elderly suspects in police detention.

Consultation and engagement

34. All Borough Community Safety Plans are required to ensure that they are written having consulted with all groups and to ensure that the needs of minority groups are taken into account. This report has identified that all of the Boroughs reviewed have taken feedback into account. In addition, the range of additional consultation and engagement that takes place formally, in terms of meetings, and through the initiatives at specific locations is extensive. However, there would be considerable benefit for the Metropolitan Police Authority to identify a range of groups who they feel the MPS should be engaged with in order to stretch service provision further.

35. One issue, which is often raised, is the relationship between younger people and their older neighbours. This form of community cohesion is particularly important in reducing the fear of crime older people may have and ensuring that younger people learn from others. Anecdotally, police are often called to deal with these types of issues and its an area where at times it is hard for police to both reassure older people and have positive relationships with younger people.

36. Safer Neighbourhood problem solving approaches will take the good practice, which already exists, in many areas in London and use this to both reassure communities and reduce demand on police response services. The Safer Neighbourhood Team maintain a database of problem solving approaches within which these examples are kept for others to use.

37. Historically the Metropolitan Police Service was sometimes criticised for consultation with the older white community which did not also engage older people from black and minority ethnic communities. Many Sector management teams, police community consultative processes and groups and local liaison groups were overly represented by older white people. More recently attempts to engage minority communities have been criticised for focusing on older people who may be out of touch with the problems of young people. As more sophisticated consultation arrangements are developing it is important that these minority groups are not excluded and similarly that older groups that could also be described in terms of race, religion, sexual orientation or sex are also widely consulted and engaged with. Advice from the Metropolitan Police Authority and in particular the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Board on how to further develop engagement in these areas is sought.

Examples of working practice:

  • In Redbridge a Community Safety Unit Detective Sergeant is responsible for liaison with partner agencies (statutory and voluntary), and attending an established Elder Abuse Forum on a regular basis on the Borough. The forum promotes the idea that elder abuse exists and ensures the free flow of information between interested agencies, making all the services of this group accessible to the elderly. The Forum also assesses feedback from members, and reviews of crime report form part of their monitoring process.
  • In Enfield transport is available for safer neighbourhood consultation events to ensure older people are able to attend. Each Inspector on Safer Neighbourhoods has an objective within his/her Performance Development Review (PDR) to make sure that the ward demographics match those we consult with to ensure a representative sample is achieved. Each safer neighbourhood Ward must keep records of the demographics of those they consult with as well as those who are community contacts or Key Individual Network.
  • In Kingston Safer Neighbourhood Teams hold quarterly meetings with agencies involved in the provision of services for the elderly to discuss initiatives and concerns; the Borough has regular contact with the chairs of local groups representing the elderly; disabled elderly; elderly belonging to minority ethnic groups; and Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) elderly.
  • In Croydon the main contacts are Age Concern and Croydon Disability Forum who both regularly contact our Partnership Unit re advice concerning clients and disability issues. The Partnership Unit have also attended meetings and delivered a safety talk to Croydon Voluntary Action who run an older persons network. The Croydon Partnership Unit have also delivered safety talks to a vast number of elderly Asian community groups, Somalian women's groups and to a range of disabled groups comprising all ages on the Borough. Croydon Neighbourhood Care Association has also arranged talks to individual community groups, which are often church based and include elderly persons. The Partnership Unit also make regular visits to the Croydon African Caribbean Families Organisation who provide day care/projects for the elderly.
  • Enfield Police have strong links with the Over 50's forum on the Borough. A representative of the forum is always invited and attends the Police Community Consultative Group, which under a new system sets three pan borough priorities for each quarter. This quarter one of the priorities set is 'Fear of crime by the elderly particularly in the hours of darkness'.
  • Hillingdon has an ‘Older People’s Assembly’ that the Community Safety Partnership meets with on a quarterly basis. The Assembly were also consulted as part of the crime audit for the new Community Safety Strategy. Following a request from the Assembly we have focused PCSO’s on targeting the riding of cycles on footways.

Specialist Operations

  • Specialist Operations (SO) do not specifically engage with particular age communities however the following outlines some of the community engagement aspects of SO work.

Anti-Terrorist Branch

  • Owing to the necessity to keep counter-terrorist operations confidential it can be problematical for the Anti-Terrorist Branch (SO13) to engage publicly with communities. However, every effort is made for the Anti-Terrorist Branch to present a public face to communities in order to provide re-assurance and advice. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke attends many public meetings, which has included such groups as the Muslim Safety Forum to discuss and hear from communities. Recently several police officers from the Anti-Terrorist Branch attended ‘Together against Terrorism’; a community event involving Londoners of all ages.
  • The Counter-Terrorism section mainly deals with offering advice to the business community on the subject of terrorism. Local borough crime prevention officers generally service individuals from the residential community in offering crime prevention advice; this will include any concerns regarding terrorism.
  • At the commencement of an investigation the National Coordinator for Terrorist Investigations, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Clarke, appoints an ACPO officer to take charge of community issues. This is the case in Operation Crevice (shortly to come to trial) where senior police officers from several police force areas have been involved throughout to ensure that communities are reassured and monitored to make certain that their issues are taken account of. Prior to conducting any operation the Anti-Terrorist Branch carries out detailed and careful community and background checks in order to take account of any person or community with particular needs. The ACPO National Community Tensions team is invited to every tasking meeting to provide both specific briefings and national overviews in order that all proposed operations are carried out in a considerate, sensitive and proportionate manner. As a matter of course all persons detained under terrorism legislation are examined by a doctor daily thus ensuring that individual or particular needs, including those which may be age-related, are taken care of.

Palace of Westminster

  • Palace of Westminster (SO17) staff are embarking on a significant joint project with the House on improving the 'customer care' skills of our staff. This will cover a range of issues but will include the need to treat people according to need and recognise both security and service in welcoming 500, 000 visitors who attend the Palace each year.
  • Aviation Security - Issues unique to an airport
  • Aviation security (SO18) is responsible for the policing of both London Heathrow and London City airports. Policing the airport straddles both territorial and specialist styles of policing. Neither airport has any residential population and consists of the following broad communities:-
    • Airport workers
    • Passengers
    • Friends and family of passengers
    • Aviation enthusiasts
  • Much of the policy and service provided to the airport communities stems from that formulated by MPS Territorial Policing Command (i.e. victims of crime, access to police stations, detention of offenders etc) and the National firearms policy.
  • Officers and Police Staff who patrol the airport have enhanced levels of first aid. All Senior Police Officers have undertaken firearms command training with requires officers to give careful consideration to different communities needs and we are very conscious of the special requirements of older people and the very diverse communities that travel through the airport. An example being the special attention paid during the recent pilgrimage for the Hajj.
  • Much of the responsibility falls to the airport authority and we regularly engage with each of the respective authorities on a broad range of subjects.

Central Operations

  • Central Operations deals with Pan London issues and so engages with all sections of the community, of all ages, on a daily basis. Engagement with older people is more prevalent in relation to traffic issues, as 40% of pedestrians killed on roads in the UK are over 60. (Department for Transport 2004). The Traffic OCU achieves this formal consultation through numerous road safety forums.

Policy and Strategy

38. The MPS commitment towards equality is articulated within the Race and Diversity (Confidence and Equality) Strategy. The spirit of the strategy is echoed in a consistent manner within the Equality Policy, the MPA and MPS joint Equality Statement that was ratified in December 2005.

39. The Equality Policy extends the ‘race’ General Duty to eliminate discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations across all the recognised strands, including ‘age’.

40. A process framework in the areas of employment and service delivery will be implemented. This will require Borough and Operational Command Units to focus, in a proactive way, across the spectrum of diversity strands.

41. The forthcoming legislation has further clarified the issues surrounding age equality. The Age Strand from the the Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate, together with Human Resources (HR) Services continue to lead work in preparation for the age legislation, with the aim that the organisation be recognised as an ‘Age Positive Champion’. This aim remains faithful to the serious commitment the Service holds toward diversity and is demonstrative of its determination to consolidate its position as an employer of choice.

Internal.

Data held by the MPS on age

42. MetHR holds both complete and accurate data for the ages of all MPS personnel as people hired by the MPS will list their age on their job application and this data is subsequently entered on to MetHR.

Monitoring of age in the MPS

  • There are several issues that concern the monitoring of age and MPS policies and practices:
  • In contemplation of the enforcement of impending legislative changes, all Human Resource policy has been scrutinised and a review is under way to ensure that the MPS will be compliant with the statutory regulation.
  • The MPS has the ability to monitor age in any and all processes that occur; however, unless requested, age is generally not recorded on publications on the Internet at the present time. However the ability to assess the impact of age on the success of processes such as police promotion, for example, is available and is likely to be monitored in the same way as gender and race.
  • However, the Workforce data report has an age section where Police Officers/Police staff/Police and Community Support Officers (PCSOs)/Traffic Wardens (TW) are grouped into age categories: under 20, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59 and 60 and over.
  • Succession planning, which forecasts corporate needs and recruits’ ages in relation to potential retirees, is reliant upon access to accurate and reliant age data.
  • Historically, the MPS has operated as a hierarchical structure and promotion has been, in many respects, deeply interconnected with experience and age. The nascent Workforce Modernisation Programme will present new challenges to the MPS in relation to age concerns. Part of the Programme will, pending consultation and appropriate legislative changes, involve the adoption of multi-point entry into the MPS. This will mean that corporate needs for skilled and possibly older workers will have to be balanced against similar needs, to ensure that younger workers develop the necessary skills and knowledge base to attain promotion. Whilst aware of these potentially competing needs, it is far too early to contemplate the possible impact of Workforce Modernisation, and the MPS will monitor this process as the project develops.

Employment practice

43. The MPS has embraced the forthcoming Age legislation from the outset and has adopted a proactive approach to preparation. HR Services and the Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate have undertaken a shared and strategic responsibility to drive the age agenda. Initially, the MPS engaged in the Age Regulations consultation process, providing a response via the Association of Chief Police Officers, (ACPO).

44. The Career Management Unit (CMU) is currently in the process of examining each area of work within its remit, including its responsibility around Induction, Career Management and Retention. Their aim is to ensure that there is no age related discrimination within these processes and that equal opportunity procedures are being promoted.

45. CMU schemes that have already been ‘age equality’ checked are:

  • Promotion processes for police officers
  • Entry processes onto High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS) and Institute of Personnel Development (IPD) schemes
  • The new MPS Exit Process, which encompass monitoring of age discrimination and equality issues, ensures we are able to monitor leavers within statutory age ranges and identify age related issues, by the format of interview process and the amended biographical information requested within it,

Recruitment

46. A report on the impact of age discrimination legislation is currently being prepared within the Recruitment Directorate, initially for submission to the Director of Recruitment and Senior Management Team. The report will contain recommendations on the way forward and should be finished by the end of February.

Pay, Terms and Conditions of Police Officers

47. In general, Police Regulations govern the pay, terms, conditions and benefits of police officers. These are determined and reviewed by the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) and are applied in the MPS after agreement in that forum and approval by the Home Secretary. The issues of pay and workforce modernisation are currently under review by the PNB.

Termination

48. Retirement dates and terms are largely determined by the relevant pension scheme rules, police pension scheme for officers and the principal civil service pension scheme for police staff. The schemes are reviewing their arrangements to take into account the new legislation and both will introduce new schemes for new entrants on a compulsory basis and for existing officers and staff on a voluntary basis during 2006.

49. Current compulsory retirement ages for police staff and officers under existing pension scheme rules remain. However, there exists opportunity for police staff to extend their employment with the Service past retirement age and police officers may be able to remain in service under 30+ arrangements. This has been the case for some time. Whilst some processes have been adapted in anticipation of the Age Regulations, a further review will be undertaken in line with the published legislation.

Pay and Conditions

50. The MPS does not have age related pay steps for police staff, nor police officers. Pay progression through the pay band is by annual increment until the maximum is reached. Police staff pay bands have between four and seven steps with Management and unions having agreed reductions in the length of most bands since the current pay structure was introduced in 2001.

51. Police staff qualify, in addition for service related pay after nine and 15 years service. These payments, which are permanent once you qualify, have not been increased in recent pay settlements.

52. In 2004, there was an equality audit on the pay structure. The audit concentrated entirely on gender specific issues. The next new audit will widen its scope to cover ethnicity, age and, where possible other strands of diversity in which sufficient monitoring is captured.

53. In partnership with the trade unions we will shortly be undertaking a thorough review of the police staff pay structure. As well as covering issues already identified as age related, such as length of pay bands and service related pay, the review will ensure that the pay structure is fully compliant with forthcoming age legislation.

54. Police officer pay ranges have between 11 (Constable) and three (Chief Inspector and Chief Superintendent) steps. Annual leave entitlement increases with service, rather than age, but other benefits are provided regardless of age.

Access to help and guidance

55. The organisation has also established a network of good working relationships with key external agencies, including Age Positive, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) and the Employers Forum on Age (EFA), of which the MPS is a member and is represented on the ACPO Age Discrimination Working Group. This network plays a critical role in assisting the Service to complete an agreed programme of work:

  • EFA Workshop – November 2005
    Policy developers within HR have received training from the EFA that outlined the draft Age Legislation, its implications on employers and best practice.
  • Policy Review (November 2005 – March 2006)
    Following on from EFA workshop, the HR policy developers will review their policy portfolio to ensure it is not inconsistent with the spirit of equality. Consultation during policy development will include the Police Federation, Trade Unions and Staff Associations.
  • Age Awareness Campaign
    This is mainly an internal initiative to raise awareness of the issues surrounding age and will provide information and updates regarding legislation, policy progress and practice using various mediums of communication, i.e. website updates, posters and newsletter. This initiative will be aimed at police officers and staff.
  • Police Federation Trade Unions and Staff Associations
    Police Federations, Trade Unions and Staff Associations continue to receive updates and information, through briefings and via the Age Awareness Campaign, which is scheduled to begin in February 2006.
  • Support and Advice
    Support and advice is available from HR Services and the Age Diversity Strand of the Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate on age related issues and will be supplemented by material produced via the Age Awareness Campaign
  • ACAS Policy Validation
    ACAS have undertaken to validate MPS HR policies as good practice in the light of the age legislation and the ACAS Code of Practice.
  • Publication of Policies
    Once signed off by HR Board, the amended corporate HR policies will be published via corporate news, Notices and the Publication Scheme.

56. In December 2005, Legal Services held a seminar focusing on the impacts of the proposed Age legislation, which was attended by HR Managers from across the organisation.

57. The Age Diversity Strand of the Diversity Central Team from the Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate manages the Met Youth Advisory Group and is committed to broadening the membership of the group and highlighting youth issues in relation to the MPS.

Conclusion

58. This report has covered a range of issues about policing and in particular how these are addressed with reference to older people. The Metropolitan Police Service are asking for specific help from the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Board on how to improve our services. These are as follows:

  • What areas of service provision does the Board feel are not covered by these reports and which need further research by the Metropolitan Police Service?
  • What advice can the Board give in how to improve engagement with older groups that could also be described in terms of race, religion, sexual orientation or sex are also widely consulted and engaged with?

List of abbreviations

MPA
Metropolitan Police Authority
MPS
Metropolitan Police Service
EODB
Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board
HR
Human Resources
DPS
Directorate of Professional Standards
ACPO
Association of Chief Police Officers
ACAS
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
PCSO
Police and Community Support Officer
BOCU
Borough Operational Command Unit
CJU
Criminal Justice Unit
CPO
Crime Prevention Officer
LGBT
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
PDR
Personal Development Review
TW
Traffic Wardens
PNB
Police Negotiating Board
HPDS
High Potential Development Scheme
IPD
Institute of Personnel Development
CMU
Career Management Unit
SO
Specialist Operations
CO
Central Operations
TP 
Territorial Policing

C. Race and equality impact

This report considers throughout the race and equality impact approach to age and equality issues within the MPS. The continued involvement of staff associations and external stakeholders will ensure that this focus is maintained.

D. Financial implications

The financial implications are contained within existing budgets. There are significant positive benefits of promoting age diversity both in terms of staff and community satisfaction and engagement. The financial implications of not promoting these benefits could ultimately result in costly employment tribunals, complaint investigations and operational and organisational under-performance.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Commander Rod Jarman, Territorial Policing, Patrick Brathwaite, Policy Development Manager and Kevin Courtney, Head of Pay and Benefits, Commander Wilkinson, Specialised Crime Directorate, Ian Gordon, Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate and Eric Phelps. A/DI Staff Officer to Commander Jarman.

For more information contact:

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

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