Minutes - draft

Please note these minutes are currently draft and are subject to committee approval.

Minutes of the meeting of the Equal Opportunity & Diversity Board held on 12 July 2007 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Kirsten Hearn (Chair)
• Reshard Auladin, (MPA Deputy Chair) attended for consideration of agenda items 1 to 8.
• Cindy Butts
• John Roberts (Deputy Chair)
• Peter Herbert
• Lee Jasper (co-opted member).
• Karim Murji  attended for consideration of agenda items 1 to 8.
• Aneeta Prem (Deputy Chair)
• .John Roberts was in the Chair during part of the discussion on agenda item 10

MPA officers

• Annabel Adams (Deputy Treasurer)
• Laurence Gouldbourne (Head of Race and Diversity)
• Hamida Ali
• Julliett Fearon-Knott (Policy Development Officers, Race and Diversity Unit)
• Douglas Lewins (Policy Development Officers, Race and Diversity Unit)
• Bennet Obong (Project Manager, Race Hate Crime Forum)
• John Crompton (Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alfred Hitchcock Diversity and Citizen Focus)
• Commander John Mc Dowall (Counter Terrorism)
• Detective Chief Superintendent Christine Jones (Diplomatic Protection)
• Detective Superintendent Steph Roberts
• Detective Superintendent Peter Wickstead

Also present:

• Ben Owusu – Race IAG
• Carole Atkinson – Community Monitoring Network
• Nathalie Stewart – Westminster Human Rights, Equalities and Race Group
• Ruth Bashall – Co-Chair, Disablity Independent Advsiory Group
• Sylvana Perdoni – Hammersmith & Fulham Victim Support Scheme
• Bashir Chaudhry MBE – League of British Muslims UK
• M. A. Malik – Ilford Community Centre
• Helen Buckley – Lewisham CPCG
• Fred Ellis – Haringey CPCG
• Rezina Ahmed – DIAG
• Yvonne Howard – TfL
• Aysha Esakji – Racial Harassment Co-ordinator, H & F
• Jasbinder Baddhan – Race Hate Crime Co-ordinator, Harrow
• Lyn Daniel – Women’s Forum, MBPA
• Ehsan Malik – DIAG
• Edmond Michaels - Middle East Christian Minorities Advice Centre
• Paul Andell, Lambeth CPCG and a chair of the Lambeth Monitoring Group

1. Introductions and apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Cindy Butts and Damian Hockney. A number of apologies from members of the invited community organisations were also received.

2. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No interests were declared.

3. Minutes – 24 MAY 2007

(Agenda item 3)

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 2007 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

4. FOLLOW UP TO THE MEETING ON 24 MAY 2007

(Agenda item 4)

Noted that all actions were recorded within the minutes.

5. CHAIR AND MEMBER’S UPDATE

(Agenda item 5)

The

6. REPORT ON FOCUS ITEM – COUNTER TERRORISM COMMAND (SO 15) REVIEW

(Agenda items 6)

This report outlined the work of SO15, the MPS Counter Terrorism Command. It provided details of how SO15 engages with communities, our organisation and key partners to make London safer. The report describes SO15’s workforce, its challenges and successes as well as initiatives being undertaken to make the OCU more representative of London’s communities.

RESOLVED - That

1. the report be noted;.
2. SO15 CTC should continue its commitment to recruit officers and staff from black and minority ethnic communities and other under represented groups in particular female police officers, by active representation at careers fairs and engaging in recruitment initiatives;

3. SO15 CTC should, through its Equal Opportunities and Diversity Champion, initiate a Workforce Development Programme, under the auspices of Organisational Development, to reflect the various diversity strands and assist in the progression and retention of staff from under represented groups including those to be supported by the six equalities strands:

4. SO15 CTC should form a Diversity Working Group to support the Command in its delivery of tangible outcomes for the benefit of individuals and communities affected by issues arising from diversity.

1. The Command’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Champion will lead on this with the support of key staff.
2. That key staff invited to sit on the Diversity Working Group will be identified by (i) the nature of their roles i.e. those staff whose area of responsibility is likely to impact upon the communities we serve and (ii) staff who wish to positively contribute by virtue of their personal experience.
3. The composition of the Working Group should reflect the diverse nature of the communities we serve where possible.

5. the Diversity Working Group actively participates in the implementation of the tangible outcomes it recommends.

6. the Diversity Working Group takes responsibility for monitoring performance within the Command on diversity issues, on behalf of the Senior Management Team, providing evidenced based feedback to support their observations.

7. the SO15 Counter Terrorism Command should demonstrate its commitment to Borough liaison and Community Engagement through the introduction of the proposed Standard Operating Procedure.

7. CONCURRENT REPORT BY MPA ON THE FOCUS ITEM

(Agenda item 7)

This report provided a response from an equality and diversity perspective to the report by the MPS.

The Head of Race and Diversity said the Authority would welcome confirmation of whether the Minicom facility was available on the terrorist hot line as well as Communities Together. He also said that the Authority would be interested to learn more about the balance between community tension and community cohesion and what was said to the community and how it is said.

Chief Superintendent Mc Dowall said that he could confirm that there was a Minicom facility on the terrorist hotline and he would confirm that it was on the other line The Chief Superintendent confirmed that the balance between Community tension and community cohesion was an area which was proving to be very challenging

RESOLVED - That

8. DISCUSSION ON FOCUS ITEM

(Agenda item 8)

Standing Orders were suspended for this item to enable contributions to be made from non-members.

Terminology

Aneeta Prem said that one issue which had never been adequately resolved was the use by the media and others of the general term “the Asian community”. Whilst the work with the young Muslim community was important sight should not be lost of the need to engage with other groups within the Asian community – Sikhs and Hindus as they too were subject to stop and searches just because of their colour. This meant a large section of the community was being alienated.

Nathalie Stewart said that she too took great exception to the use of the term “Muslim terrorism".
Chief Superintendent McDowall said he entirely agreed about the use of the phrase "Muslim terrorism". Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hitchcock confirmed.

Stop and Search

Aneeta Prem said that the feedback she received from young Asians was that the manner of the way in which the encounter was conducted by the police officer which caused concern. To them, the searches appeared to be colour led rather than intelligence led.
Fred Ellis Chair Haringey CPCG referred to stop and search specifically in Haringey and could also confirm that the young people he worked with were concerned with the manner in which the encounter was conducted and his group communicated these concerns to the Borough Commander. The Haringey Racial Equality Council had done some research was still relevant – the most recent figures he had seen still showed disproportionality.

In reply Chief Superintendent McDowall confirmed that the policy was to carry out in a way stop and search in a way which is proportionate and whenever possible an explanation was given as why it had been necessary to carry out the procedure. He took the point that stops should be intelligence led but pointed out that this had to be balanced with what was at times acute operational need. He felt that there was still much to be learnt and any guidance was welcome.

What was said and how it was communicated - as far as was practicable advance notification of operations was given to Boroughs so that they could become engaged as soon as possible. On the use of words, he would completely agree that the word “Asian” should not be used. He would make the point that when circumstances permitted the Command would have an important part to play in community engagement in view of the amount of intelligence in the Command . However, in view of the current terrorist threat the emphasis had had by necessity had to be placed on other aspects such as detection . Was it a question of training? Officers in his Command were not normally involved in the stop and searches and he would acknowledge that there was probably a training need.

Paul Andell, Lambeth CPCG and chair of the Lambeth Monitoring Group drew attention to paragraph 6 of the report which referred to the benefits derived from carrying out Section 44 stops and asked whether the MPA saw a more strategic value in community engagement through additional monitoring of Section 44 stops and searches, and the use of stops. Are there other mediation processes which could be used in instances of serious community tension. In his experience Community Impact Assessments were not fully thought through and concentrated on the policing aspects. Could the monitoring data for Section 44 stop and searches be disaggregated to borough level.

Lee Jasper , co-opted member, said he felt that Section 44 remained a problem for the officers who were required to carry it out as well as those stopped. It might be better to just use PACE with its requirements for reasonable suspicion.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hitchcock referred to a presentation he had made to the Muslim Safety Forum the previous evening in relation to the terrorist activity at the end of June. The IPCC representative at the meeting had reported that no complaints had been received and the Commission was satisfied with the way in which the police had handled the response to the events. The DAC confirmed that during initial training officers receive a considerable amount of training on conducting both Police and Criminal Evidence Act and Section 44 stop and searches although it was the case that the emphasis was on the former. Bulletins and briefings to officers had contained reminders about aspects such as the quality of the encounter and the need to treat people with respect and providing an understanding of why it was being carried out. There has also been a reminder about the better use of stop and account, with the search power only being used if it was felt to be necessary. The feedback has been that there was an understanding of both the need for the heightened state of alert and the need to carry out more stop and searches. Borough Commanders had been asked to make contact with local community groups to advise them of a possible increased level of Section 44 stop and searches m. The events were too recent for statistics to be available.

Andy Hull (Oversight and Review Officer, MPA) advised that the MPS had set up a group to implement the recommendations of the report produced following the London Debate on counter terrorism which had been carried out by the MPA. At a discussion of Section 44 stops at the Authority meeting on 31 May members had agreed the following recommendations:

1. the MPS continue to appropriately apply to the Secretary of State for authority to use Section 44 Terrorism Act 2000 (Section 44) powers (currently pan – London);
2. the MPS continue to constantly review the appropriateness of a pan London authority and based upon the threat, intelligence and operational requirements continue to only apply for pan-London authority when it is needed to support tactics to prevent terrorism. However, this recommendation be subject to the further recommendations made throughout this report;
3. the MPS revisit and update the Section 44 Standing Operating Procedure (SOP), and ensure that staff receive adequate briefing for the appropriate and legitimate use of Section 44 powers, although post event de-briefing would be conducted to ensure effectiveness and highlight opportunities for improvement;
4. the MPS provide sufficient training to enable staff confidently and properly to exercise their powers under all stop / search provisions;
5. the MPS nominate a strategic lead officer for the tactical pan-London use of Section 44, to co-ordinate activity from the receipt of Section 44 authority through deployment and post deployment monitoring;
6. as with the exercise of all other stop and search powers, the MPS promote the tactical option of ‘stop and account’ within a revised SOP (See recommendation 3);
7. the MPS maximise opportunities to engage public awareness in the use across London of Section 44 by using appropriate high visibility signs / other equipment, where appropriate;
8. the MPS develop a comprehensive communication strategy and engagement plan to ensure Londoners receive a consistent level of accurate information pertaining to police use of Section 44;
9. the MPS conduct an annual MPS Equality Impact Assessment in respect to Section 44 of the Terrorism Act; and
10. the Chair of the Authority write to the Home Secretary expressing the Authority’s concern about the introduction of any new stop and question counter terrorism powers

The MPS had also undertaken to produce detailed figures for the use of Section 44 broken down by factors such as borough, age, ethnicity and time of day. This would first be presented in the Autumn of this year.

Community engagement

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hitchcock confirmed that there was disproportionality amongst members of the Asian community. Phrases such as Muslim terrorism were not used by the police Rezsina Ahmed, Disability Independent Advisory Group asked whether consideration had been given to working with local authorities in order to engage with more people. How did the police engage with disabled communities, who may also have important information

Chief Superintendent Mc Dowall confirmed that the Command was learning from other parts of the MPS with more experience in community engagement He would like to be carry out more of the types of community projects which were mentioned in the report. The hotline was an example of an initiative to aid section of the community and he would welcome any further suggestions.

Lee Jasper said he would identify the African and Somali communities as ones where more work on community engagement was particularly needed. This would consolidate the work done by the Diversity Working Group and make it compliant with MPS policies. The Group should report periodically either to the Diversity Board or EODB.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hitchcock reminded the meeting that an important element of the structure for the Safer Neighbourhoods initiative was Key Individual Networks. There were now approximately 11,000 people who acted as advisers within the Network. Communities Together engagement team provided more strategic guidance. Disability – the Disability IAG provided forthright guidance and feedback . Third party reporting was handled largely by the Violent Crime Directorate. The most effective third party scheme had been found to be that used within the LGBT community and there were learning points for other applications of third party reporting

Recruitment

Peter Herbert stated that the report did not provide information on the language skills and the assumption must be that without these skills, expertise had to be brought in from outside. He also observed that recruitment for the Command, in common with other Specialist Units, was predicated on all candidates having had to serve for 2 years as a Constable. He felt that this need to be revisited and cited the contrast with the Intelligence Services which recruited on the basis of language skills and as a result had been successful in recruiting people from a wide variety of backgrounds, with a notably large contingent of women. He would suggest that the pressing Counter Terrorism threat provided an opportunity to think outside the box in terms of recruitment which would probably be the only way to make a step change in terms of diversity within the workforce and without change it was hard to avoid the conclusion that SO15 did not have the best people for the job – only the best people available for the job.

Chief Superintendent McDowall said that a wider piece of work on workforce modernisation was being carried out across the organisation. There had been an overhaul of processes and as a result some aspects such as the need for a written examination had been dropped. Like many other specialist units working in SO15 often involved working long anti social hours in a wide variety of locations. Whilst this challenge appealed to some potential recruits, it was seen as not being compatible with other officers domestic arrangements and obligations in terms of child care etc.
The Cultural Resources Unit was used to meet particular challenges such as gaps in languages. There were functional links with the Security Services which provided access to specialist skills.

Disability aspects

Ruth Bashall Co-Chair, Disability Independent Advisory Group said she felt that whilst deaf and disabled Londoners supported the Counter Terrorism work done by the MPS there were concerns over how specific aspects were delivered. There was a special meeting of the IAG on 16 July to consider aspects of the recent terrorist events. There were concerns that disabled people and the groups which represented them were omitted from traditional forms of community engagement. The existing Minicom/Typetalk was a small but important example of where an improvement was needed. She asked why there was no record of the number of deaf and disabled people who were stopped . Initiatives involving young people such as the one in Waltham Forest detailed in the report were welcome but the need to make these initiatives accessible and DDA compliant was important. For example, did the Waltham Forest video have subtitles and BSL signing? She felt that young disabled people were very susceptible to being recruited to terrorism and it was important that the police encouraged community groups to make sure that the needs of deaf and disabled people were borne in mind. Ruth Bashall concluded by saying that she would welcome an EIA specifically on the impact of counter terrorism on deaf and disabled people in London.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hitchcock confirmed that he would be attending the meeting which Ruth Bashall had referred to and felt that this would be a good forum to work through the detail of the points she had raised. And there was an expectation that this would include an EIA. Mental health aspects formed a significant part of firearm officer training. There had been but he would make the point that the MPS had more than one machine – they were situated for example in the Central Communication Command . Stops were recorded following national guidelines.

Chief Superintendent McDowall undertook to make sure that the video was fully compliant. Community reassurance – the primary focus had up to now been by necessity on dealing with incidents.

The Chair said that she would urge that a senior SO15 attend the IAG meeting.

Training

Fred Ellis Chair Haringey CPCG , said that much emphasis had been put on training, but he would suggest that part of the problem was that regardless of any training there would always be a small number of officers who did not carry out stop and searches in a fair manner. Mr Ellis referred to changes being made to initial officer training which included a considerable time in the borough which would mean that they had more contact with local community groups

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hitchcock confirmed that the new arrangements for devolved training in boroughs meant that officers would have a greater understanding of local communities.

Nathalie Stewart said she was worried about the comment that officers on the front line did not appear to be fully trained in carrying out Section 44 stop and searches.

Nathalie Stewart reminded the meeting that terrorist activity in London was not new and although the nature of the threat was different now she would hope that there was still a large element of “learning” in the MPS from earlier episodes which was still valid – the MPS had a good record in dealing with the IRA.

Chief Superintendent McDowall said he could confirm that some of skills learnt in dealing with the IRA were used in the current investigations. However, there were marked differences in the scale of the current terrorist threat

Summing up

Reshard Auladin, MPA Deputy Chair said he wished to place on record the very good record of SO15 in dealing with counter terrorism. Particular praise was due to the Command and indeed the whole of the MPS for the way in which the most recent incidents had been handled.

The Head of Race and Diversity, MPA identified the following aspects which should be taken forward:

• The Command to feed into the MPA scrutiny on succession management
• Accessibility status of the hot line.
• Corporate equality issues – something like the Race and Diversity Learning and
• Development Programme was going to be critical to the Command and it would be advantageous for the Command

He also pointed out there was a error in paragraph 56 on the % of FME officers

Chief Superintendent Mc Dowall thanked the Board for the opportunity to present the report. It meant that the diversity and equality aspects had been considered anew and the process had been very instructive. There was a clear need to progress on the issues which had been identified such as more rigorously following corporate equality issues. The Command was happy to contribute to the scrutiny on succession and SO 15 would be participating in the Disability IAG meeting on 16 July. The question of better adherence with corporate equality issues which several speakers had mentioned would be taken forward.

9. DIVERSITY ISSUES WITHIN THE DIPLOMATIC PROTECTION GROUP (CO6)

(Agenda item 9)

A report was submitted which outlined the outlined the work of CO6, the MPS Diplomatic Protection Group. It provides details of how CO6 supports the Diplomatic and Government communities in London, while also supporting local BOCUs. The report describes CO6’s workforce, its challenges and successes as well as initiatives being undertaken to make the OCU more representative of London’s communities. Lastly, this report records how CO6 supports its personnel involved in major incidents. The DPG is world renowned & recognised, and consequently carries significant responsibility for the positive reputation of the Metropolitan Police Service.

Standing Orders were suspended for this item to enable contributions to be made from non-members.

Aneeta Prem pointed out that not all diversity aspects were mentioned in the report. Were you using information from Met HR to obtain monitoring figures? Relationship of the Command with the corporate IAGs

Commander Jones reminded the meeting that the provision of diversity information was voluntary. She would draw attention to LGBT aspects where a number of perceived barriers in the Command had been removed. With regard to the point on the IAGs there had been some contact with IAGs but she would agree that the Command needed to do more work corporately. She felt that the diplomatic community itself was one where useful consultation links could be made.

Lee Jasper commented that with regard to stop and search there appeared to be a disproportionality rate of across the ethnic groups of about 20% which was consistent with other Commands. Given his understanding of the nature of the work undertaken by the Command he was surprised that this should be the case. The work of the Command was largely in furtherance of London’s role as a major world city and he wondered if the competencies demonstrated by the DPG had general application across the organisation.

Commander Jones advised that a large proportion of the stops were conducted in the vicinity of an Embassy – for example in relation to a demonstration where many of the participants would have a link with the country concerned. She had commissioned work so that more could be learnt about the disproportionality. A process had been set up to look at how individual encounters had been handled and this would include making contact with the person stopped. She agreed that the Command could provide much useful learning and contacts to the whole organisation.

The Chair enquired as to the relationship between DPG, the embassies and the Public Order Branch in order to ensure that demonstrations were policed in an appropriate way.

Commander Jones confirmed that there was generally a good working relationship with the missions but there were differing attitudes towards the policing of demonstration which perhaps reflected the culture in the home country and there were examples of countries which were simply not familiar with the concept of lawful public demonstrations. In the case of known large demonstrations there were opportunities to plan with colleagues in Central Operations.

Peter Herbert suggested that there should be research on whether there were different practices regarding stop and search amongst BME and female officers.

Paul Andell, Lambeth CPCG and chair of the Lambeth Monitoring Group asked whether Operation Pennant would include DPG and SO15.

DAC Hitchcock said it had been set up to look at stops specifically within Territorial Policing. He would discuss the possibility of extending it to other areas together with the issue of a possible survey of stop and search practice amongst BME and female officers.

Rezina Ahmed reported that police officers were telling her that stop and search training was not compulsory. Commander Jones said that the training was compulsory and indeed training was a performance monitor for many Operational Command Units.

In reply to a point raised by Peter Herbert Commander Jones said she was grateful for the suggestion that attention be given to the arrangements for regular patrols.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

10. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD 2006/07

(Agenda item 10)

A report was submitted which provided a brief resume of the work of the Board in the past year.

RESOLVED-That the report be noted

11. WORK PROGRAMME FOR THE BOARD 2007/08

(Agenda item 11)

A report was submitted which provided details of the proposed workplan for the Board for 2007-08.

The Chair said that she had suggested that each MPA Committee should have its own equality objectives as part of its work programme.

RESOLVED – That

1. the key objectives for EODB as outlined in paragraph 7 and Appendix 1 be agreed;

2. the actions in relation to Corporate Equality Priority Eight as outlined in paragraph 12 be referred to the Co-ordination and Policing Committee; and

3. the workplan for EODB, which also includes the Morris workplan, outlined in Appendix 1 be agreed.

12. CO-OPTED MEMBERSHIP

(Agenda item 12)

This report reviewed the arrangements for appointing co-opted members to the Board and outlines the process of seeking nominations.

The Chair said that the best way forward would be to continue with having a single co-opted member.

Lee Jasper indicated that he wished to continue to serve.

RESOLVED – That

1. Lee Jasper be re-appointed as the co-opted member: and

2. the appointment be ratified by the full Authority

13. LONDON RACE HATE CRIME FORUM ANNUAL REPORT

(Agenda item 13)

A report from the Chair of the Race Hate Crime Forum was submitted.

RESOLVED – That the Board supports the Forum in its quest for funding

14. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BOARD ANNUAL REPORT

(Agenda item 14)

This report updated the Board on the progress of the MPA Domestic Violence Board at the close of its first year, in advance of its presentation to all MPA members at Full Authority in July where it will seek agreement to continue its work for a further three years subject to annual review. The report also gives an indication of the content of the annual report currently being compiled.
The Chair

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

15. STOP AND SEARCH ANNUAL REPORT

(Agenda item 15)

This report presented the MPA Gender Equality Scheme 2007-10

The Board noted that two financial implications had been identified: the cost of the proposed conference in June 2008 and the cost of buying supplies of the Know Your Rights leaflets which had previously been supplied without charge by the Association of Police Authorities.

RESOLVED – That

1. the summary report be noted;

2. approval be given the achievements made by the MPA and MPA since the publication of the Stop and Search Scrutiny of the MPS Practice report in the 2004; and

3. the effective working relationships with key stakeholders such as London’s communities, the MPS, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), the Department of Skills and Education (DfES), Association of Police Authorities (APA), other members of the GLA family and MPA members and staff be noted.

The meeting closed at 4.24. p.m.

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