Contents
Report 11 of the 4 October 2007 meeting of the Equal Opportunities & Diversity Board and presents the MPS response to the recommendations of the MPA/TfL emergency planning (resilience) conference 2006.
Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).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.
MPS response to the recommendations of the MPA/TfL emergency planning (resilience) conference 2006
Report: 11
Date: 4 October 2007
By: Assistant Commissioner Central Operations on behalf of the Commissioner
Summary
In March 2006 the MPA/TfL Emergency Planning (Resilience) Conference was held, resulting in 53 multi-agency recommendations for the inclusion of issues relating to Deaf and disabled people into emergency planning procedures. This report provides the MPS response to those recommendations.
A. Recommendations
Members are invited to:
- Note MPS progress against the Resilience Conference recommendations
- Support the MPS/LRT (London Resilience Team) initiative to engage partner agencies to address those recommendations
- Note the long-term approach advocated beyond the completion of those recommendations, towards the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
B. Supporting information
1. The MPA/TfL Resilience Conference resulted in 53 recommendations for the inclusion of issues relating to Deaf [1] and disabled people into multi-agency emergency planning processes. The full report from that conference has yet to be published although an interim report was presented to members in September 2006. The MPS has examined the recommendations and compared them closely with its own Equality Scheme, before making the following response.
2. The recommendations were based upon a transport emergency scenario. Consequently, there is a general theme towards transport related issues throughout the recommendations. Several of the recommendations are relevant to Transport Operating Companies only. Others are matters that are covered by the ongoing national programme relating to Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) policy and procedure. Additionally, a small number of the recommendations require input from the London Ambulance Service, London Resilience Team, the MPA and the Civil Contingency Secretariat.
3. However the MPS accepts that ten of the recommendations are clearly within its sole remit, and already form part of the MPS Equality Scheme, and a further seven are matters that the MPS is already addressing, but recognises that a multi-agency approach would also be beneficial. With this in mind, the MPS has adopted a partnership approach with the London Resilience Team, to consider how the remaining recommendations should best be addressed.
4. The London Resilience Team is currently formulating a proposal to its Programme Board on 25 September 2007, recommending that a work group be established under the governance of the London Regional Resilience Forum, where the MPS is represented by Assistant Commissioner Central Operations. This new group is intended to develop a multi-agency approach to include issues relating to Deaf and disabled people into pan-London emergency planning procedures.
5. It is proposed that part of the remit of the group will be to Equality Impact Assess the existing pan-London emergency plans, to ensure that the needs of Deaf and disabled people are met. The group will comprise existing resilience partners, including the MPS, and representatives from the Deaf and disabled community. The MPS has asked that the new group also consider the remaining multi-agency recommendations from the Resilience Conference. This approach also supports objective D17 of the MPS Equality Scheme, for the MPS to develop a multi-agency approach to addressing the needs of Deaf and disabled people through its London Resilience Partners.
6. A full breakdown of the response to each individual recommendation is attached at Appendix 1.
7. In summary:
- The MPS is already addressing 18 of the 53 recommendations, under the MPS Equality Scheme. (These 18 recommendations are shown in Appendix 2).
- All of the recommendations (including the above 18) have relevance to several partners, such as other emergency services and TfL. The MPS has requested the assistance of the new London Resilience Team work group to jointly address all 53 recommendations on a multi agency partnership basis.
Abbreviations
- AC
- Assistant Commissioners
- CBRN
- Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear - (How the emergency services respond to an attack of this type)
- COMCAB
- Computer Cab
- GLA
- Greater London Authority
- ICT
- Information & Communication Technology
- LAS
- London Ambulance Service
- LFB
- London Fire Brigade
- LRT
- London Resilience Team - (a team of Civil Servants and secondees from relevant agencies including the MPS and other emergency services working on emergency plans for London)
- MPA
- Metropolitan Police Authority
- MPS
- Metropolitan Police Services
- NPIA
- National Policing Improvement Agency
- TfL
- Transport for London
C. Race and equality impact
1. The engagement of Deaf and disabled people in emergency planning on a multi-agency basis will have a major impact upon how pan-London emergency plans are created and exercised, and will have a positive impact upon Deaf and disabled people in London.
2, With the approach of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, an extensive program of emergency planning and testing will be developed, presenting a major opportunity to engage with Deaf and disabled people from the outset, rather than revisiting existing plans.
3. It is important that resilience partners are signed up to the approach being advocated by the MPS and LRT, so that Deaf and disabled people have the opportunity to access and influence the entire multi-agency planning process. This will have the effect of saving of time and effort by reducing the amount of plans that would need to be re-written to incorporate the needs of Deaf and disabled people retrospectively.
4. The support of the MPA is sought to encourage other agencies to recognise the benefit of early engagement with Deaf and disabled people in this way.
D. Financial implications
The MPS, in common with many agencies, already engages with Deaf and disabled people, including the MPS Disability Independent Advisory Group, to advise on policy and procedure across a spectrum of activity. Expansion of this engagement into emergency planning areas of work should be led by the need, including the needs of Deaf and disabled people. This expansion will require further financial commitment in the forthcoming year. Where reasonable adjustments to multi-agency plans are identified, there will need to be a process to achieve agreement between the agencies regarding how the changes will be financed.
E. Background papers
None
F. Contact details
Report author: Chief Inspector Joanne Chinn, Emergency Preparedness Operational Command Unit (CO3), MPS
For more information contact:
MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18
Appendix 1
MPS responses to resilience conference recommendations
| Recommendation | MPS response |
|---|---|
| 1. The range of communications methods used by Deaf and disabled people are wide and it is disabled people’s legal right to have their communication needs met. All methods of communication must be considered when designing better information services. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 2. It should never be assumed that Deaf and disabled people speak English as a first language and agreed communication methods should take this into account. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 3. A different voice to the one regularly used to make announcements should be used to alert customers to emergency situations. | MPS Response. This is a matter for transport operators. Refer through LRT workgroup. |
| 4. The use of visual alarms should be considered but be informed by the needs of people who may have an adverse reaction to these depending of the frequency of the pulse. | This is a matter for transport operators. Refer through LRT workgroup. |
| 5. The use of visual information displays, audible announcements and pictorial symbols and images should all be explored. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 6. Large-scale pictograms displayed on the sides of vehicles are encouraged so long as the vehicles themselves do not block access routes – there is potential to use ICT projections instead. | Multi-agency consideration required. Refer to LRT workgroup. |
| 7. The amount of responsibility that is fair to place on drivers to convey information to customers should be considered. | This is a matter for Transport for London. Refer through LRT workgroup. |
| 8. Other customers can be of great benefit in emergency situations by conveying information but need training on how to assist their fellow passengers. | Training the public requires a multi-agency public education program. Refer to LRT workgroup. |
| 9. Good practice in training officers in British Sign Language (BSL) and simple symbols should be adopted by all agencies – short course in which the same key messages are taught in a range of communications may be the most effective arrangement. | MPS Equality Scheme D11(1) refers – Deaf, Deafened and hard of hearing people will have access to local police personnel trained in BSL Deaf communication tactics and Deaf awareness.
|
| 10. Organisations should consider the ability to communicate through a decontamination suit and commission a hybrid design between them if appropriate. | This is a matter for national CBRN consideration. Refer to National Police Improvement Agency, Police National CBRN Centre, Ryton, through LRT group. |
| 11. Solutions for using rather than barring technologies such as mobile phones which are relied upon by Deaf and disabled people. | To be raised with Civil Contingency Secretariat as part of National Telecommunications review. Through LRT workgroup. The rollout of Airwave Radio is due for completion across the MPS in October 2007, and will reduce demand upon mobile telephone networks. New protocols and channels exist for emergency services to communicate with each other by Airwave Radio. |
| 12. Media communication is essential for those people who have wandered from a contaminated area. | This is a matter for national CBRN consideration. Refer to National Police Improvement Agency, Police National CBRN Centre, Ryton, through LRT group. |
| 13. Accessible channels or websites should be set up to ensure Deaf and disabled people can access accurate information. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 14. Information about how to access support and advisory services after the incident must be made accessible in all formats and widely distributed. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 15. Organisations should consider the use of staff whose role is purely to disseminate information and who are experienced and skilled in a range of communication methods. | The London Resilience Team has convened a multi-agency group to consider warning and informing issues. Work commenced July 2007. |
| 16. Organisations should keep an up to date list of people who have core accessible communications skills. | The MPS Cultural and Communities Resource Unit is a database of officers and police staff with a wide variety of community and cultural specialist skills, including those who practice British Sign Language. |
| 17. People want to be informed that an emergency has occurred rather than a standard delay. | The emergency services will always alert the public to any incident as soon as it is safe and practicable to do so. Decision-making in this respect is taken at Strategic level, taking into account the nature of the incident. |
| 18. Information should be timely, accurate and factual; Deaf and disabled people who are not directly involved in the incident need to have a good understanding of the level of risk to them if any. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 19. Staff guiding and assisting visually impaired people should introduce themselves and explain what is happening and where they are guiding them, pointing out hazards along the way. | MPS Equality Scheme D6(1) refers – to promote disability within the MPS to raise awareness and understanding of disability issues.
|
| 20. The quality and volume of audio equipment should be considered. | This is a matter for transport operators. Refer to Transport for London through LRT workgroup. |
| 21. Authorities and organisations should consider the possibility of carrying a replacement long cane where this has been lost in the incident. | Consideration needs to be given to the merits of this recommendation, as other options for provision of such support may exist. Equipping entire emergency service response fleets in this manner may not be the most proportionate response. Refer to LRT workgroup for multi-agency consideration. |
| 22. Deaf and disabled people would benefit from some experience of evacuating from a train and station in a trial situation. | This is a matter over which Transport Operators would have primacy. MPS Equality Scheme D17 – to give disabled people the opportunity to be involved in the MPS Emergency Planning Process to
ensure the needs of Deaf and disabled people are met also refers.
|
| 23. Good information and training in advance of an incident should be provided to all citizens as a matter of course. | Training the public will require a multi-agency public education program, refer to LRT workgroup for consideration. |
| 24. Customers should be encouraged to report faulty communications equipment or any other emergency equipment to staff. | This is a matter for transport operators. Refer through LRT workgroup. |
| 25.The speed of information flow from the point at which an incident occurs and it is subsequently disseminated should be addressed. | MPS Equality Scheme C7 refers – To ensure that public access to our information and data about all our services is inclusive, open and effective.
|
| 26. The inaccessibility of the underground remains a key priority for Deaf and disabled people. | This is a matter for Transport for London. Refer through LRT workgroup. |
| 27. Live scenario testing should continue to include the rescue or evacuation of Deaf and disabled people and specific training exercises with Deaf and disabled people are recommended. | MPS Equality Scheme D17 refers – to give disabled people the opportunity to be involved in the MPS Emergency Planning Process to ensure the needs of Deaf and disabled people are met also
refers.
|
| 28. LAS and TfL should continue to explore new lifting and evacuation equipment with Deaf and disabled people and should fully test this with real people before purchase. | MPS response. This is a matter for the LAS and TfL. Refer through LRT group. |
| 29. Officers should be fully trained in lifting and carrying Deaf and disabled people and this should be delivered with the full participation of Deaf and disabled people. | The rescue and recovery of people involved in incidents is the responsibility of the Fire and Ambulance Services. Refer to LAS/LFB through LRT workgroup. |
| 30. Once Deaf and Disability Equality Training has been embedded across organisations responsible for evacuation and rescue, all customers should be actively encouraged to follow the advice and instruction of officers at the scene of an incident. | MPS Equality Scheme objective C10 refers – Delivery of the National Police Race and Diversity Learning and Development package.
|
| 31. Assistance dogs should be kept with their owners in an evacuation or rescue situation. | MPS response. The circumstances where assistance dogs and their owners may be required to be separated would be in a CBRN incident. This is a matter for national CBRN consideration. Refer to National Police Improvement Agency, Police National CBRN Centre, Ryton, through LRT group. |
| 32. Rescue and evacuation teams should consider carrying a spare long cane to assist visually impaired and Deaf -blind people. | Refer to Recommendation 21. |
| 33. Building managers and owners must take responsibility for the evacuation of Deaf and disabled people from their premises. Deaf and disabled people have a right to satisfy themselves that appropriate procedures are in place. | MPS Equality Scheme D7 refers – Improve information on and access to existing and future MPS Buildings for disabled people.
|
| 34. Officers should work with Deaf and disabled people to agree appropriate methods of responding to incidents of contaminated wheelchairs and mobility aids. | This is a matter for national CBRN consideration. Refer to National Police Improvement Agency, Police National CBRN Centre, Ryton, through LRT group. |
| 35. A specific session with assistance dog users should be arranged. | The context and meaning of this recommendation is unclear. For referral to MPA for clarification via LRT workgroup. |
| 36. Replacement vehicles must be as accessible as the vehicles that they replace. | The context and meaning of this recommendation is unclear. For referral to MPA for clarification via LRT workgroup. |
| 37. Officers should try to avoid blocking key access routes, which prevent Deaf and disabled people from moving around the outside of a contained area. | The London Emergency Services Liaison Panel Manual for Major Incident response provides emergency services with guidance for the positioning of vehicles and maintenance of emergency access routes. |
| 38. Where this is not possible, officers should try to note alternative routes and communicate these to Deaf and disabled people. | One of the roles of cordon officer is to provide advice and guidance to members of the public to minimise disruption. This applies equally to all members of the public. |
| 39. Deaf and Disability Equality Training needs to be delivered to all staff involved in responding to emergency incidents. | MPS Equality Scheme D6(1) refers – to promote disability within the MPS to raise awareness and understanding of disability issues.
|
| 40. Training should be delivered by Deaf and disabled people and should cover every aspect of an emergency situation and resilience planning, including aftercare, support and advice. | This is a matter that affects every agency engaged in emergency response, and for the MPS would be a major progression from the corporately approved mandatory training already referred to. Refer to LRT workgroup for multi-agency co-ordination. |
| 41. Refresher training must be provided, particularly when officers changes roles; training should be relevant to the role of the officers concerned. | This is a matter that affects every agency engaged in emergency response, and for the MPS would be a major progression from the corporately approved mandatory training already referred to. Refer to LRT workgroup for multi-agency co-ordination. |
| 42. The full and meaningful involvement of Deaf and disabled people in developing good practice is essential including the live testing of scenarios. | This is a matter that requires multi-agency co-ordination. Refer to LRT workgroup. |
| 43. Deaf and disabled people should be more fully engaged in mystery shopping all services. | MPS Equality Scheme D10 refers - To implement an independent ‘Mystery Shopper’ approach to measure the quality of service provided to disabled people.
|
| 44. Racial harassment and harassment which relates to more than one aspect of a persons social identity, for example racial and disability harassment must be treated as such and Deaf and disabled people should receive information about how to pursue official complaints. | MPS Equality Scheme D9 refers – Deliver the policing elements of the Greater London Authorities Disability Equality Scheme and Action Plan, including our response to hate crime.
|
| 45. Officers who need to assist blind or Deaf/blind people, especially with disrobing them should wear a tactile cuff, which identifies them to the person concerned. | Disrobing people in relation to an incident would normally take place in CBRN circumstances. This matter requires referral to national CBRN policy makers at NPIA, Ryton, through LRT workgroup. |
| 46. The rapid identification of Deaf and disabled people who may need assistance should be part of the initial stage of responding to an incident. | The completion of MPS Equality Scheme C10 – delivery of the National Police Race and Diversity Learning and Development program, will equip officers to identify and respond to the needs of Deaf and disabled people at an incident. |
| 47. Deaf and disabled people must be fully consulted and meaningfully involved in the review of policy practice and procedures. | MPS Equality Scheme D1(1-4) Implement the Social Model of Disability. Key element 2 - Impact assess all MPS policies and procedures for their impact upon disabled people and ensure the Social Model rather than any medical based model is built into the assessment process. |
| 48. The impact of the resilience plan itself, including the use of mobile phones must be fully reviewed with Deaf and disabled people. | It is unclear what this recommendation refers to. Refer back to MPA for clarification through LRT workgroup. |
| 49. The diverse communication and information methods and requirements of Deaf and disabled people should be understood by all agencies, and communicating with people with different impairments should become part of standard procedures. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 50. All findings from the seminar should form the basis of policy review in each organisation. | MPS Equality Scheme D1 refers – Implement the Social Model of Disability, lead – Assistant Commissioner Operational Services, target date January 2009. Also, refer to other agencies through LRT workgroup. |
| 51. Agreed actions should be incorporated into performance measurement mechanisms as a matter of course. | Actions that reflect existing activity within the MPS Equality Scheme are already subject to performance management mechanisms. Remaining activity for referral for multi-agency co-ordination through the LRT workgroup, will be subject to the scrutiny of the London Regional Resilience Forum. |
| 52. This report should be forwarded to all social services departments with a recommendation that their policies regarding the supply of Personal Assistants be reviewed. | This is a matter for Local Authority consideration. Refer to London Councils through LRT workgroup. |
| 53. The report should be forwarded to Comcab with a specific request for them to review their decision to implement a blanket ban on certain London areas immediately after the events of July 7. | This is matter that only COMCAB can comment on. For referral via LRT workgroup. |
Appendix 2
A note of which recommendations fall already under the MPS Equality Scheme
| Recommendation | MPS response |
|---|---|
| 1. The range of communications methods used by Deaf and disabled people are wide and it is disabled people’s legal right to have their communication needs met. All methods of communication must be considered when designing better information services. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 2. It should never be assumed that Deaf and disabled people speak English as a first language and agreed communication methods should take this into account. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 5. The use of visual information displays, audible announcements and pictorial symbols and images should all be explored. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 9. Good practice in training officers in British Sign Language (BSL) and simple symbols should be adopted by all agencies – short course in which the same key messages are taught in a range of communications may be the most effective arrangement. | MPS Equality Scheme D11(1) refers – Deaf, Deafened and hard of hearing people will have access to local police personnel trained in BSL Deaf communication tactics and Deaf awareness.
|
| 13. Accessible channels or websites should be set up to ensure Deaf and disabled people can access accurate information. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 14. Information about how to access support and advisory services after the incident must be made accessible in all formats and widely distributed. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 18. Information should be timely, accurate and factual; Deaf and disabled people who are not directly involved in the incident need to have a good understanding of the level of risk to them if any. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 19. Staff guiding and assisting visually impaired people should introduce themselves and explain what is happening and where they are guiding them, pointing out hazards along the way. | MPS Equality Scheme D6(1) refers – to promote disability within the MPS to raise awareness and understanding of disability issues.
|
| 22. Deaf and disabled people would benefit from some experience of evacuating from a train and station in a trial situation. | This is a matter over which Transport Operators would have primacy. MPS Equality Scheme D17 – to give disabled people the opportunity to be involved in the MPS Emergency Planning Process to
ensure the needs of Deaf and disabled people are met also refers.
|
| 25.The speed of information flow from the point at which an incident occurs and it is subsequently disseminated should be addressed. | MPS Equality Scheme C7 refers – To ensure that public access to our information and data about all our services is inclusive, open and effective.
|
| 27. Live scenario testing should continue to include the rescue or evacuation of Deaf and disabled people and specific training exercises with Deaf and disabled people are recommended. | MPS Equality Scheme D17 refers – to give disabled people the opportunity to be involved in the MPS Emergency Planning Process to ensure the needs of Deaf and disabled people are met also
refers.
|
| 30. Once Deaf and Disability Equality Training has been embedded across organisations responsible for evacuation and rescue, all customers should be actively encouraged to follow the advice and instruction of officers at the scene of an incident. | MPS Equality Scheme objective C10 refers – Delivery of the National Police Race and Diversity Learning and Development package.
|
| 33. Building managers and owners must take responsibility for the evacuation of Deaf and disabled people from their premises. Deaf and disabled people have a right to satisfy themselves that appropriate procedures are in place. | MPS Equality Scheme D7 refers – Improve information on and access to existing and future MPS Buildings for disabled people.
|
| 39. Deaf and Disability Equality Training needs to be delivered to all staff involved in responding to emergency incidents. | MPS Equality Scheme D6(1) refers – to promote disability within the MPS to raise awareness and understanding of disability issues.
|
| 43. Deaf and disabled people should be more fully engaged in mystery shopping all services. | MPS Equality Scheme D10 refers - To implement an independent ‘Mystery Shopper’ approach to measure the quality of service provided to disabled people.
|
| 44. Racial harassment and harassment which relates to more than one aspect of a persons social identity, for example racial and disability harassment must be treated as such and Deaf and disabled people should receive information about how to pursue official complaints. | MPS Equality Scheme D9 refers – Deliver the policing elements of the Greater London Authorities Disability Equality Scheme and Action Plan, including our response to hate crime.
|
| 49. The diverse communication and information methods and requirements of Deaf and disabled people should be understood by all agencies, and communicating with people with different impairments should become part of standard procedures. | Objective D8 of the MPS Equality Scheme refers - To ensure any MPS Communication Strategies take account of the needs of disabled people.
|
| 50. All findings from the seminar should form the basis of policy review in each organisation. | MPS Equality Scheme D1 refers – Implement the Social Model of Disability.
|
Footnotes
1. “This is in recognition that many Londoners who use British Sign Language (BSL) see themselves as a linguistic minority not as 'disabled' people. Deaf (with a capital D) is a way of describing a culture with its own sign language, lifestyle, history, and a sense of belonging. This is a cultural model of deafness rather than a medical model and defines being Deaf as a positive way of experiencing the world visually… Part of this work is also to recognise and celebrate Deaf culture." (footnote provided by MPA from its Disability Equality Scheme) [Back]
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