MPA Involvement in the London Criminal Justice Board

Report: additional paper
Date: 11 November 2002
By: Clerk

Summary

From April 2003 a new National Criminal Justice Board and 42 Local Criminal Justice Boards will begin operating. These boards are currently being established. Authorities are not currently represented on the boards, but APA and the Chair of this committee are seeking representation. This paper updates members on the progress being made.

A. Recommendations

1. That members support the Chair and Deputy Chair as MPA leads for Criminal Justice issues
2. That members note the attached letter sent to the Chair of the London Criminal Justice Board and support the Chair of PPRC in the approach being taken
3. That members note that a paper will be received from the MPS at the January PPRC meeting, providing an update on criminal justice issues, including MPS and MPA involvement in the London Criminal Justice Board

B. Supporting information

Background

1. One for the proposals set out in the Government’s Criminal Justice White Paper “Justice for All” was the establishment of a National Criminal Justice Board and 42 Local Criminal Justice Boards (CJBs). The London Board will cover the Metropolitan and City areas.

2. The National and Local CJBs are now being established and will begin formally operating from April 2003. The London Board is already begun and has elected a chair, the Chief Executive of the Greater London Magistrates’ Courts Authority, Ashley Truluck.

3. Currently, neither the APA nor MPA are represented on the national or London CJBs. However, the APA has been strongly pressing for representation on the national board and for local police authorities to be represented on their local CJBs, given the strategic and performance role of the CJBs. A meeting of the shadow National CJB will be meeting on the 13 November 2002 to discuss police authority involvement in local boards.

4. The local boards will be expected to focus on delivery of CJS targets, including setting annual delivery agreements with the CJS partner agencies, including the MPS. In addition they will be expected to set strategic and annual CJS plans, produce annual performance reports and carry out consultation with partners and their local communities.

5. The MPS have been commissioned with providing a full report to the January meeting of this committee, detailing the progress being made on criminal justice issues, including the establishment of the London CJB.

6. However, as the London board is already being established, the Chair of this committee felt that early engagement between the MPA and the London CJB was essential. The Chair has hence written to Ashley Truluck outlining the importance we place on MPA involvement in the London CJB and asking for a meeting to discuss this issue.

7. The letter sent is attached and members are asked to support the approach taken. The APA has also asked for lead members for each authority for criminal justice issues and the Chair and Deputy Chair of this committee have been nominated. Members are asked to support these nominations.

C. Equality and diversity implications

None .

D. Financial implications

None .

E. Background papers

Criminal Justice White Paper: Justice for All, July 2002

F. Contact details

Report author: Johanna Gillians, MPA

For more information contact:

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

Appendix 1

5 November 2002

Dear Mr Truluck

London Criminal Justice Board

I am writing to you, in your position as chair of the London Criminal Justice Board, regarding Police Authority involvement in the local boards. With the new guidance for the local boards and a new emphasis on improve delivery against CJS targets, the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) feels that it is essential for it to have a full role in the London board. This also supports the requests from the Association of Police Authorities (APA) for increased Police Authority involvement.

The MPA is the body responsible for the planning, setting targets and monitoring performance of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). It therefore has responsibility to set and improve delivery against policing targets. By being represented on the London Criminal Justice Board, the MPA can be a key influence on the CJS targets and can ensure that there the targets set for the MPS by the Authority are consistent with those being set for the CJS as a whole. MPA representation can also help avoid duplication of effort in performance management responsibilities. Without it conflicts may arise.

Could I suggest that we set up a meeting between ourselves to discuss this issue further as soon as possible. I would be grateful if you could contact Johanna Gillians on the above number to arrange a convenient date.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Sumray
Chair, MPA Planning, Performance and Review Committee

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