Minutes

Minutes of the Professional Standards & Complaints Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 17 October 2002 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members:

• Reshard Auladin (Chair)
• Jennette Arnold (items 6-9)
• Elizabeth Howlett (Deputy Chair)
• Richard Sumray
• Rachel Whittaker

Also present: Tony Arbour.

MPA Officers:

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Alan Johnson (Head of Human Resources and Professional Standards)
• Nick Baker (Committee Services)

MPS Officers:

• Ian Blair (Deputy Commissioner)
• Philip Hagon (Commander, Directorate of Professional Standards)
• Chris Bourlett (Directorate of Professional Standards)

Part 1

11. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for late arrival to the meeting were received from Jennette Arnold.

12. Declarations of interests from members of the  committee (Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interests were given by members.

13. Minutes of meeting of Professional Standards and Complaints Committee and ACPO Conduct Sub-committee

(Agenda item 3)

In relation to the minutes (Minute 4) of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee meeting held on 18 July 2002, the Chair requested that members receive a briefing on employment tribunals as soon as possible.

The Sub-Committee also agreed that the Clerk review the current role and format of the ACPO Conduct Sub-Committee. Members requested that as part of the review consideration should be given to seeking consistency of membership of this Sub-Committee.

Resolved – That

1. the minutes (Part 1) of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee meeting held on 18 July 2002 agreed and signed as a correct record and that the minutes (Part 1) of the ACPO Conduct Sub-Committee held on 1 August (subject to the removal of Graham Tope being in attendance) and 16 September 2002 be noted; and
2. the Clerk undertake a review of the ACPO Conduct Sub-Committee role.

14. Chair’s and members’ update

(Agenda item 4)

Confirmation was given that the presentation on the ‘timeliness of complaints’ would be given at the December meeting of the Committee.

Rachel Whittaker requested that she be able to raise an issue during Part 2 of the meeting.

Resolved – That a presentation be given to the Committee on timeliness of complaints at its December meeting.

15. Complaints management information

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee received a report that gave details of key changes or exceptions within complaint management information data.

The report highlighted the continued downward trend in the number of public complaint allegations being recorded and indicated that there is an increase in the average time taken by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to reach decisions.

With regard to members concern about the increase in time being taken by the PCA and CPS to reach decisions, it was agreed that the Clerk should write to these organisations seeking an explanation.

In considering the downward trend of public complaints, members suggested that under reporting maybe occurring and that this area needed to be investigated. Members also suggested that there was a need for a more consistent approach with regard to quality control.

A request was made that future reports on complaints management information should include details of those complaints that had started, but were not yet completed.

Resolved – That

1. the report be received;
2. the Clerk write to the PCA and CPS seeking further information regarding the increasing delay in processing complaints; and
3. future reports on complaint management information include details of complaints that had started but were not yet completed.

16. Timeliness of complaints

(Agenda item 6)

The Committee considered a report that examined the range of issues that impacted upon the time it takes to investigate public complaints and internal investigations.

The report outlined some of the reviews undertaken by the MPS to seek an improvement and possible causes for the continuing difficulties in dealing with the timeliness of complaints. The MPS suggested that the 120-day performance target may be unrealistic for London and that pressure should be put upon the Home Office to revise this target.

The report also looked at issues impacting on timeliness, such as complexity and bureaucracy, quality verses quantity and individual investigations, as well as some of actions taken by the Directorate of Professional Standards to improve timeliness.

Members welcomed measures being undertaken to improve timeliness and proposals such as of restorative justice. The Committee raised concerns relating to the caseload of officers and the implications of using ACPO rank officers for disciplinary hearings. The Committee also suggested that a concentrated effort to clear the current backlog should be undertaken.

The Chair expressed disappointment that many of the issues being discussed relating to timeliness had been identified some time ago and suggested that more radical changes in dealing with complaints should be considered. It was agreed that this issue and that of existing measures being undertaken should be included in the presentation on timeliness to the next meeting of the Committee.

Following a suggestion that a third party should look at the issue of timeliness of complaints, it was agreed that this issue should form part of the presentation at the next meeting of the Committee.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the presentation on timeliness of complaints proposed for the next meeting of the Committee include; current initiatives within the MPS to improve the processing of complaints; suggestions for a radical change in the process, third party involvement in the auditing of complaints and resources implications.

17. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 7)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during item 9 as it was likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Resolved – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of agenda items 8 and 9.

18. Action taken under delegated authority

(Agenda item 8)

The Committee received a report that informed members of the action taken by the Clerk in consultation with the Chair of the Authority in relation to a settlement at a forthcoming action up to a specified financial limit.

Resolved – That the action taken be noted.

19. Minutes (Part 2)

(Agenda item 9)

The Committee considered the minutes (Part 2) of the Committee meeting held on 18 July and the ACPO Conduct Sub-Committee meeting on 1 August and 16 September 2002.

Resolved – That the minutes (Part 2) of the Committee meeting held on 18 July 2002 be agreed and signed as a correct record and the ACPO Conduct Sub-Committee meeting on 1 August and 16 September 2002 be noted.

20. Chair and Members update

(Agenda item 4)

Following a concern raised by Rachel Whittaker relating to police officers disciplinary matters, confirmation was given that the Committee would receive officer sentencing guidelines for consideration shortly.

The Committee closed at 3.30 p.m.

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