MPS Equalities Scheme - concurrent report

Report: 07
Date: 18 January 2007
By: Chief Executive and Clerk

Summary

The report provides a response from an equality and diversity perspective to the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) report on its Equalities Scheme.

A. Recommendations

That Members agree:

1. That the key issues raised at EODB are fed into the MPS’ submission of its Equalities Scheme to Full Authority.

B. Supporting information

1. The MPS Equalities Scheme is the proposed framework that will, when complete, contain the arrangements for achieving equality across the six diversity strands. Recent equality legislation in relation to disability (December 2006) and forthcoming equality laws in relation to gender (April 2007) have placed duties on public bodies to not only eliminate unlawful discrimination, but also to positively promote equality of opportunity in these equality areas.

2. The MPA welcomes the development of the MPS Equalities Scheme and the process it has been through to reach this stage. However, as with the MPA Generic Equalities Scheme, it is recognised the production of a Scheme is merely a stagepost on a journey to fully integrate and promote equality and diversity into all areas of policing.

3. Under both existing and forthcoming legislation, four of the key business activities where promotion can positively occur are:

• Access
• Consultation
• Training; and
• Monitoring

The report highlights the steps the MPS has taken to address these four activities, as well as the governance arrangements that have been put in place to ensure that these key activities are undertaken and supported. Whilst welcoming the MPS Equalities Scheme, the purpose of this concurrent report is to enable Members to put down ‘markers’ as to the areas of policing business that may undermine the Scheme’s intended outcomes.

Access

4. In terms of access, two issues are important: one, access to information; and two, ensuring that messages are clear, understandable and set-out in a way that people can follow according to their needs.

5. In terms of access to information, the MPS has made considerable strides to communicate its business to staff and to the public. In relation to the disability elements of its Equalities Scheme, it has produced its Scheme in a variety of formats including Braille, Easy-Read, Audio and British Sign Language. Diversity & Citizen Focus Directorate has worked with the Directorate of Public Affairs (DPA) to ensure that some of its key messages are accessible. In adopting and implementing the social model of disability, the MPS is making progress in relation to physical access to buildings and premises through elements of its Estate Strategy.

6. That said, there is an on-going challenge for the MPS to ensure that its information is clear, understandable and set out in a way that people can follow according to their needs. This challenge relates not only to the MPS in how its delivers its services to the public, but also in its relationship with key stakeholders such as the MPA.

7. One of the major challenges for the MPS in terms of access to information is its progress towards achieving the highest standard of the Equality Standard for Local Government (ESLG). Being able to access and co-ordinate information from across as wide an organisation as the MPS will be a considerable challenge. The adoption of an equalities-based performance management framework will assist in facilitating and gathering this evidence. Members note the work that is being carried out in this regard and would welcome regular updates through EODB as to the progress made in this regard.

Consultation

8. The MPS consulted on its Scheme with the MPS Disability Independent Advisory Group (DIAG) and its Disabled Staff Association (DSA), as well as its Equalities Scheme Reference Group and members of the MPS Management Board.

9. One of the areas for improvement is in how the MPS consults, especially with disabled people and its own staff. Often, in order to present information in an accessible format and then consult, there needs to be a greater lead-in time; wherever possible, the MPS should consistently factor this element into its consultation planning. It is acknowledged that there will be times when on account of unforeseen and fast-moving events, consultation periods have to be reduced; however, the MPS needs to aim to find inclusive ways of consulting disabled staff and people in order to meets its business goals. The joint MPA-MPS Community Engagement Strategy, with its supporting policy and guidance will be an important way in ensuring that engagement is citizen-focused as well as tailored to community needs.

Training

14. The Police Race & Diversity Learning and Development Programme (PRDLDP) is a major national priority programme and achieving its delivery will assist in meeting the stated outcomes of the MPS Equalities Scheme. Members received a report at the last EODB and expressed their concerns over the potential slippage in view of the programme’s deadlines. Members formally receive a progress report on this programme at EODB every six months and will wish to continue to receive updates and support this national programme.

Monitoring

15. The planned streamlined governance arrangements for the MPS Equalities Scheme aim to ensure that there is more effective community involvement in oversight, access to relevant information and meaningful progress. However, unless sound, robust governance and monitoring arrangements are put into place for programmes such as ESLG and the PRDLDP, supported by policing activities which have Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) undertaken, there is a danger that the stated aims and objectives for the MPS Equalities Scheme may not be achieved.

C. Race and equality impact

1. This report aims to assist the MPS not only to meet its legal equality requirements, but also to be the ‘gold standard’ in terms of providing access, communication, training and monitoring. However, to do so, all of the MPS must be able to measure the equality and diversity impact of its work and communicate key outcomes in ways that are accessible to London’s diverse audiences.

D. Financial implications

1. There are no direct financial implications arising from this report.

E. Background papers

• MPS Equalities Scheme
• MPS Equalities Scheme – Report to EODB 18 January 2007
• Code of Practice On The Duty To Promote Disability Equality Duty

F. Contact details

Report author: Laurence Gouldbourne, MPA Race and Diversity Unit, MPS

For more information contact:

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

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