Minutes

Minutes of the Professional Standards & Complaints Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 12 January 2004 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members:

• Reshard Auladin (Chair)
• Jennette Arnold (from item 5)
• Elizabeth Howlett (Deputy Chair)
• Richard Sumray
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA Officers:

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

MPS Officers:

• Commander Hagon
• DAC Steve Roberts (Director of Professional Standards)

Part 1

29. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Nicholas Long and Cecile Wight.

30. Declarations of interests from members of the committee

(Agenda item 2)

Members gave no declarations of interests.

31. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee received the minutes of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee meeting held on 10 November 2003 and noted the minutes (Part 1) of the ACPO Conduct Sub-Committee meetings held on 16 and 30 October 2003 and 10 November 2003.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee meeting held on 10 November 2003 be agreed and signed as a correct record, and the minutes (Part 1) of the ACPO Conduct Sub-Committee meetings held on 16 and 30 October 2003 and 10 November 2003 be noted.

32. Chair’s and Members’ update

(Agenda item 4)

No updates were given.

33. Complaints Management Information (MI)

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee received an MI report for the 12 months to November 2003, which focused on the key changes or exceptions within the data.

Members were informed that complaints allegations continued to decline annually. The number of public compliant cases under investigation had dropped by 24% from 624 cases in December 2002 to 476 cases in November 2003. It was also reported that public complaint investigations over 120-days had halved to 117 (25% of the total ‘live’).

In conjunction with the report, the Committee received a presentation on the performance management framework within Internal Investigations Command and how the senior management team use the framework to try to reduce complaints and improve timeliness.

Members welcomed the improvement in dealing with complaints and the processes outlined in the report.

Members asked if satisfaction polls were taken from complainants and when a complaint is received was it measured from the point it was received or logged. In relation to satisfaction polls, the MPS confirmed that these were no longer viable, mainly due to the very low number of responses. It was suggested, however, that this area maybe something that the IPCC would be taking forward. The MPS confirmed that complaints were measured once they were formally received.

The Chair also congratulated the MPS on the decline in complaints and the work undertaken on the backlog. He highlighted the need for the MPA to be reassured that the decline in complaints was a general trend and suggested that the MPS should keep the Committee informed of this issue.

Members highlighted the need for the Committee to be regularly informed on the work the MPS were undertaking on improving the disproportionality in public complaints (recorded) highlighted in the analysis undertaken by the MPS Internal Constancy Group.

Resolved – That members note the report and the illustration of trends given at Appendix 1 to the report.

34. Monitoring of police complaints and discipline

(Agenda item 6)

The Deputy Clerk reported that he had received no feedback from members on those case files that had been provided for consideration.

The Deputy Clerk also reminded members that new legislation was likely to change the oversight function of members and this maybe an opportunity to review current processes.

In supporting a review of this function, members requested that consideration be given to the previous arrangements of attending local units to view files and that dates for such visits must be provided to members in advance.

Resolved - That a review of the oversight function by members be undertaken.

35. MPS Professional Standards Strategy – progress on Strand 4

(Agenda item 7)

The Committee received a report on the progress relating to strand 4 of the MPS Professional Standards Strategy on organisational and individual learning.

Members sought reassurance from the MPS regarding the code of ethics, particularly that recruits were sought who had ethical standards and that this expectation was explicit throughout and officer’s service. Concern was also raised about ensuring that front line staff or those involved in covert operations were also complying with the code.

The MPS confirmed that the ethics and code of ethics were a common theme, which ran throughout an officer’s service. This was a key role for all managers within the MPS and it remained a key function for managers and supervisors to regularly disseminate the code and its principles. Members suggested that in addition to the role of managers in ensuring the code is followed, the idea of using good mentors could be developed. Members asked for a copy of the code of ethics.

The Committee sought clarification on why the substance abuse policy, which had been endorsed, had not been implemented. The MPS confirmed that the policy was delayed by on-going negotiations at a national level. However, the MPS aimed to progressively introduce proportionate testing followed by the introduction of compulsory testing as soon as possible. Members outlined the need for the substance of misuse testing to be drawn to the attention of all staff and not just to new recruits.

Resolved – That the progress on strand 4 of the MPS Professional Standards Strategy ‘organisational and individual learning’ be noted and a copy of the code of ethics be provided to all members.

36. Impact of the introduction of Independent Police Complaints Commission on the MPA

(Agenda item 8a)

The Committee considered a report that outlined the implications for the Authority of the introduction of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) on 1 April 2004. The report included details of the recruitment of independent members to sit on conduct panels.

The Deputy Clerk confirmed that arrangements were being made with other stakeholders for a joint recruitment campaign and for a pool of independent members to be sought.

The Committee stated that the selection of good quality independent members should reflect London’s diversity. Members supported the suggestion that independent members should be required to be available for at least 10 sittings per year.

Elizabeth Howlett requested that her dissent to recommendation 2 be noted.

Resolved – That

1. the job description, person specification and exclusions for independent members on the MPA panel list be agreed; and
2. a daily rate of up to £192 or £96 for a half day be agreed.

37. Implications for the MPS of the introduction a of Independent Police Complaints Commission

(Agenda item 8b)

In conjunction with item 8a, the MPS submitted a report to the Committee on the implication for the MPS of the introduction of the IPCC.

In discussing the main issues for the MPS, the Committee noted the MPS’ concerns that the Police Complaint Authority’s (PCA), and therefore the IPCC’s, view of the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) means that the investigation of complaints should more often be conducted by police forces outside London. This will have severe resource issues because externally investigated complaints tend to cost more and take longer than those investigated internally.

Members suggested that a report should be made to the Human Resources Committee on the implications of the IPCC in relation to police staff and specials.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. Human Resources Committee receive a report to a future meeting on the implications of the IPCC in relation to police staff and specials.

38. Policing the Police – international conference

(Agenda item 9)

The Clerk reported to the Committee details of the international conference of police organisations that took part in Belfast in early November 2003.

It was reported that the Commissioner gave a keynote speech on tackling police corruption and that plenary sessions included: internal mechanisms of police accountability and police oversight; police use of force and tackling police corruption.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

39. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 10)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during items 11-13 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 11-16.

Part 2

Summary of exempt items

40. Directorate of Professional Standards and Anti-corruption

(Agenda item 11)

This item was deferred.

41. Misconduct hearings

(Agenda item 12)

This item was deferred.

42. Police Appeal Tribunals summary

(Agenda item 13)

Members received a report that summarised Police Appeal Tribunal cases.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

43. Quarterly summary of exceptional and significant case results

(Agenda item 14)

This item was deferred.

44. Informants and the Witness Protection Programme

(Agenda item 15)

The Committee received a report and presentation that updated members on the MPS informants and the witness protection programme and the role and work of the Witness Protection Unit and the Criminal Justice Protection Unit.

The presentation set out what systems are in place to manage informants who were able to provide credible intelligence to assist police in the fight against corruption.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

45. ACPO Conduct Sub-committee

(Agenda item 16)

The Committee noted the minutes (Part 2) of the Sub-Committee meetings held on 16 and 30 October and 10 November 2003.

Resolved - That the minutes (Part 2) of the Sub-Committee meetings held on 16 and 30 October and 10 November 2003 be noted.

The Committee closed at 12.30 p.m.

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