Minutes - draft

Please note these minutes are currently draft and are subject to committee approval.

Minutes of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 14 April 2005 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Tony Arbour
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Karim Murji (Deputy Chair in the Chair)
• Jenny Jones
• Richard Sumray

MPA officers

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

MPS officers

• Commander Philip Hagon
• AC Sue Akers
• Michael Clark (DPS)

Also present: Nicola Williams (IPCC Commissioner)

46. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Reshard Auladin (Chair) and Damian Hockney.

47. Declarations of interests from members of the committee

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interests were given by members.

48. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee received the minutes of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee meeting held on 10 February 2005 (Part 1).

The Committee also noted the minutes (Part 1) of the Senior Officers Conduct Sub-Committee meeting held on 17 March 2005.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee meeting held on 10 February 2005 (Part 1) be agreed and signed as a correct record and that the minutes (Part 1) of the Senior Officers Conduct Sub-Committee meeting held on 17 March 2005 be noted.

49. Chair’s and members’ update

(Agenda item 4)

No updates given

Resolved – That the report be noted.

50. Complaints management information

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee received a report that gave data for the 12 months to February 2005, which focused on the key changes or exceptions within the data as trends are slow to change.

The report informed members that there had been an increase of 9% in the number of public complaint allegations being recorded over the past 12 months from 366 to 402 and an 11% in the number of conduct matter allegations recorded over the same period from 77 to 87.

Whilst the increase in the number of complaints was initially disappointing and following discussion, members agreed that this increase could be a result greater public confidence in complaining and the work being undertaken by the IPCC. Discussion also took place around the perception that an increase in complaints was not necessarily a negative thing.

In relation to the average number of days to complete full/proportionate public complaint investigations, member welcomed the news that for the first time since 1998/99 these were below the 120 days target. They noted that the average number of days to complete an investigation into a conduct matter had reduced by 30% from 212 days in March 2004 to 148 in February 2005. Members also welcomed the reduction in the decision to hold a misconduct hearing and the hearing itself.

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

51. MPS Professional Standards strategy progress on strand 5

(Agenda item 6)

Following the re-launch of the MPS Professional Standards Strategy, in August 2002, the Committee received a report on the progress relating to Strand 5 – Maintaining the threat of detection, prevention and management risk.

Resolved – That members note the report and the progress on Strand 5 Maintaining the threat of detection, prevention and management risk.

52. Discipline cases involving drink drive convictions

(Agenda item 7)

The Committee received a report that summarised discipline cases involving drink drive convictions of police officers between 1 January 2003 and February 2005.

Members sought clarification on the process of appeal following a conviction.
In doing so, members raised concerns relating to the lack of consistency and the leniency often shown on appeal. Members felt that there was often a misunderstanding of mitigating circumstances and a need for clear guidelines and sanctions.

The Sub-Committee agreed that the Deputy Chief Executive write to the Commissioner highlighting members concerns about the process.

Resolved – That

1. the report be received; and
2. the Deputy Chief Executive write to the Commissioner highlighting members concerns about the process.

53. The Morris Inquiry – work programme for the committee

(Agenda item 8)

Following the publication of the recommendations of the Morris Inquiry, the Committee received a report outlined a work programme, which for took forward those issues in relation to the MPA’s responsibility for oversight of the MPS professional standards matters.

The Deputy Chief Executive outlined proposals for the establishment of a Complaints Cases Panel, which would ‘dip sample’ case files and enable the Authority to meet its requirement of monitoring of complaints. Members welcomed this and agreed that it would be beneficial for dates of meetings of the Panel to be programmed.

The Chief Executive also outlined proposals for consideration of complaints data and trends at OCU level and consideration of complaint trends by reference to categories of complaint as well as aggregated volume.

In relation to consideration of data and trends relating to discipline matters, members suggested that this could be incorporated in to existing systems when presenting this to the Committee. Members noted the introduction of a case management model as a framework for oversight of individual cases and that further details on this would be presented to the next meeting of the Committee. They also noted that at the next meeting of the Committee a report on key areas of overlap arising from the Taylor/Morris/CRE reports would be presented.

Members favoured a single meeting with stakeholders to discuss their perspectives on complaints and discipline processes.

Resolved - That

1. the Committee agree the proposals outlined in the report, including those at Appendix 2 to the report as the basis for its future work programme;
2. the Chief Executive prepare suitable detailed procedures and protocol for delivering the work programme, in consultation with the Commissioner and the Chair of the Committee

54. Recording of complaints and conduct matters by the Chief Executive or Deputy Chief Executive on delegated authority

(Agenda item 9)

The Committee received a report that set out a proposal for the handling of complaints and conduct matters in order to take account the requirements of the Police Reform Act 2002, together with the recommendations made by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in respect of timescales for handing complaints and conduct maters.

Members were informed that IPCC had advised that there should be a complainant centred approach to complaints handling and decisions as to whether to record should be taken within 10 days of receipt, unless otherwise specified in legislation. In order to comply with this it was proposed that Chief Executive and or the Deputy Chief Executive under delegated authority be able to take decision on whether to record a complaint. Members noted that currently there was a potential delay to the process as the Senior Officers Conduct Sub-Committee, who currently consider this matter, meets on a monthly basis and there was a potential delay of up to 28 days before a decision could be taken.

Decisions taken by the Chief Executive and or Deputy Chief Executive would be taken in consultation with the Chair of the Committee and reported to meetings of the Senior Officers Conduct Sub-Committee.

Resolved – That the Chief Executive prepares efficient and effective procedures and protocols for the notification or recording of complaints.

55. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 10)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during items 11 to 14 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 to 14.

Summary of exempt items

56. A request for authority to settle civil proceedings

(Agenda item 11)

The Sub-Committee considered a request for Authority to settle civil proceedings.

57. Summary of suspended police officers

(Agenda item 12)

Members considered a report on suspended police officers.

58. Summary of exceptional and significant cases

(Agenda item 13)

A report was received that summarised exceptional and significant results.

59. Minutes (part 2)

Members received the minutes (Part 2) of the Committee meeting held on 10 February 2005 and noted the Senior Officers Conduct Sub-Committee minutes (Part 2) of the meeting held on 17 March 2005.

The Committee closed at 4.20 pm

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