Minutes

Minutes of the Professional Standards & Complaints Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 16 June 2003 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members:

• Reshard Auladin (Chair)
• Jennette Arnold (from item 5)
• Richard Sumray
• Cecile Wright
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA Officers:

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

MPS Officers:

• Barbara Wilding (Deputy Assistant Commissioner – Director of Professional Standards)

Part 1

44. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Elizabeth Howlett (Deputy Chair).

45. Declarations of interests from members of the committee

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interests were given by members.

46. Minutes of meeting held on 28 April 2003

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee received the minutes of the meeting held on 28 April 2003.

Arising from the minutes, members discussed sentencing guidelines (minute 34) and in particular the need for sentences to have a clear starting point and to avoid inconsistencies. MPS officers undertook to circulate a further draft of the guidelines to members for comment, prior to them being submitted for approval. Rachel Whittaker requested that she be able to discuss this issue further in Part 2 of the meeting.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee meeting held on 28 April 2003 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

47. Complaints management information

(Agenda item 4)

The Committee received a report that outlined details of complaints management information for the period November 2002 to April 2003. A revised version of appendices 1 and 2 (DPS performance indicators and diversity information) was tabled.

The report highlighted further reductions in the percentages of public complaints investigations over 120-days old from 40% in November 2002 to 29% in April 2003.

Members suggested that further contact be made with the respective chairs of the Police Complaints Authority (CPA) and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) regarding those complaint cases that are outstanding and arrangements for these to be processed during the transition from the CPA to the IPCC.

MPS officers supported members suggestion that future management information be presented showing the twelve month average and specify if ‘days’ are actual or working days.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

48. Monitoring of police complaints and discipline

(Agenda item 5)

The Clerk reported that 12 complaint and/or disciplinary case files had been selected and made available for member inspection as agreed at the last meeting of the Committee. However, for legitimate reasons, some of those case files selected were not available and subsequently the timescale given for inspection was not suitable and proved detrimental to the process.

The Clerk agreed to review the process, particularly relating to the members having ample time to review files prior to a meeting of the Committee.

Following further discussion it was also suggested that members having reviewed a batch of files, submit any observations and suggestions to the Director of Professional Standards and Complaints in order for these to be addressed at the meeting.

Resolved  -That

1. the Clerk review the process of inspection of complaints and disciplinary cases files, with the emphasis on adequate time being made available for members to inspect them; and
2. as part of the future process, members having reviewed files submit and observations and suggestions to the Director of Professional Standards in order for these to be addressed at the meeting.

49. Learning labs

(Agenda item 6)

The Committee received a report that updated them on the ‘Learning Labs’, the achievement of the Labs, recommendations that had been implemented and the future of the Learning Labs initiative.

The Director of Professional Standards reported that, whilst the MPS had found the initiative productive and beneficial, Learning Labs had lost their early impetus, particularly in the light of the closure of the Home Office Learning Lab department and the advent of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the Learning Labs initiative had reached the end of its useful life.

Richard Sumray requested further in formation relating to restorative justice issues and it was agreed to forward this information to him.

Resolved – That the Committee agree to the dissolution of the MPS’ involvement in Learning Labs.

50. MPS reporting wrongdoing policy

(Agenda item 7)

Members received a report on improvements made to the MPS reporting wrongdoing policy.

The policy, which was circulated to members with the report, reiterated the obligations of MPS staff to report wrongdoings by their colleagues and set out ways in which to do this, with the emphasis on how staff that do report wrongdoing are supported and protected.

Members, in welcoming the improvements made to the policy, suggested that any re-launch should be supported by specific examples of how the policy has been successfully used, whilst retaining anonymity. Members also sought reassurance that the policy would support those staff that reported suspected wrongdoing that subsequently resulted in no action being taken and raised questions relating to the consistency of sanctions against wrongdoers.

The MPS agreed that the re-launch of the policy should include examples of how the policy has been successfully used and reassured members that staff who reported an incident that resulted in no action being taken would be fully supported. The MPS agreed that the issue of consistency in sanctions against wrongdoers required further work.

The Chair and Clerk drew members’ attention to the fact that the policy did not apply to ACPO rank officers and that this should be made clear in the policy. The issue of reporting wrongdoing relating to ACPO officer rank officers needed to be developed.

In response to members regarding formatting issues and ownership of the policy, the MPS reported that the policy had been drafted in accordance with other policy formats, but acknowledged that a brief summary introduction may be beneficial. Confirmation was given that the policy would be placed on the MPS intranet and therefore would be fully accessible.

Resolved – That

1. the report and policy be noted; and
2. the MPS develop a reporting wrongdoing policy for ACPO officers.

51. MPS professional standards strategy – progress on strand 2 – security and management of information and intelligence

(Agenda item 8)

The Committee received a report that informed members on the progress relating to Strand 2 of the MPS Professional Standards Strategy – Security and Management of Information and Intelligence. The report was supplemented with a presentation, which focused around the aims of this strand to:

• review security controls on key systems;
• develop specific guidance and standards for security and management of information and intelligence based on the ‘need to know’ principle; and
• develop practical security guides for supervisors and managers for vulnerable systems.

Arising from the presentation members discussed the vetting procedure, including its impact on the timeliness on recruitment. The MPS outlined the vetting process and reported that the vetting procedure had been transferred to the Directorate of Professional Standards, which would speed up this process.

In response to members’ questions relating to random checks, integrity testing and consistency issues, it was reported that all borough commanders were briefed quarterly and that a ‘good practice package’ would be produced.

Resolved – That the report and the progress on Strand 2 of the MPS Professional Strategy – Security and Management of Information and Intelligence be noted.

52. Annual report 2002/03

(Agenda item 9)

Following a recommendation from the full Authority that each Committee produce an annual report on its activities, members received a report that summarised the key issues and decisions made during the year for 2002/03.

Resolved - That the Committee’s annual report be agreed and referred to the full Authority.

53. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 10)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during items 11 and 12 as it was likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) (1) and (14) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Resolved – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of agenda items 11 and 12.

54. Directorate of Professional Standards operational update

(Agenda item 11)

Members received a report on anti-corruption activities, focusing on investigative operations.

Members were given examples of current areas of the MPS’ anti-corruption activities. It was also noted that on occasions investigations did not result in disciplinary or criminal action.

Members reiterated the importance of ensuring that new recruits were supported and well informed about anti corruption. In addition the MPS reported that at each officers promotion, behavioural issues were addressed.

Resolved - That the Committee note report.

54. Police regulations – working with another police authority

(Agenda item 12)

The Committee received a report that sought approval for joint working with another police authority in relation to Police Regulations.

Resolved – That the joint working with another police authority, as outlined in the report, in relation to Police Regulations be agreed.

55. Minutes: 28 April 2003

Arising from the minutes (minute 34) of the Committee meeting held on 28 April 2003, Rachel Whittaker requested that the MPS clarify the extent of sanctions available short of being required to resign and that consistency need to be maintained.

The Committee closed at 12.05 p.m.

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback