Minutes

Minutes of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 09 June 2005 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Reshard Auladin (Chair)
• Tony Arbour
• Daiman Hockney
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Karim Murji (Deputy Chair)
• Jenny Jones

MPA officers

• David Riddle (Deputy Clerk)
• Claire Lister (Professional Standards Officer)
• Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)

MPS officers

• AC Sue Akers
• Carl Bussey (DPS)

Also present: Sir Ronnie Flanagan (HMIC) Laurence Lustgarten (IPCC Commissioner)

60. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Richard Sumray and AC Brown.

61. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interests were given by members.

62. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee received the minutes of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee meeting held on 14 April 2005 (Part 1).

The Chair, referring to minute 52, informed the Committee that a letter had been sent to the Commissioner regarding disciplinary cases of officers convicted of drink driving and the apparent inconsistency in appeals. A response from the Commissioner was awaited.

The Committee also noted the minutes (Part 1) of the Senior Officers Conduct Sub-Committee meetings held on 14 April and 12 May 2005.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee meeting held on 14 April 2005 (Part 1) be agreed and signed as a correct record and that the minutes (Part 1) of the Senior Officers Conduct Sub-Committee meetings held on 14 April and 12 May 2005 be noted.

63. Chair’s and members’ update

(Agenda item 4)

No updates given

Resolved – That the report be noted.

64. Complaints management information

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee received a report that gave data for the 12 months to April 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 14% in the number of public complaint allegations recorded over the past 12 months and a 4% in the number of conduct matter allegations recorded over the same period, from 79 to 82.

In relation to timeliness the average number of days to complete a full public complaint investigation remained below the target of 120-days and reduced by 17% from 123-days in May 2004 to 102 in April 2005. Members were also informed that conduct matters had continued to improve with a reduction of 36% from 211 days to 134 in April 2005 and that misconduct hearings had reduced by 39% from 164-days in May 2004 to 100 in April 2005.

The Committee noted the increase in the number of public complaints. However, it was suggested that the increase could also be seen as a rise in public confidence in making complaints and as a result of improvements in the accessibility of making of complaint, i.e. the establishment of the DPS Reserve Desk However, members also acknowledged that there would come a point when a rise in complaints should ‘plateau’ and or begin to reduce. Members also suggested that the MPS should develop work around measuring satisfaction levels of complainants.

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

65. Mystery shopper survey update

(Agenda item 6)

The Committee received an update report on work undertaken to improve complaint-recording practices in response to the findings of the mystery shopper quality assurance exercise undertaken on the MPS’s behalf.

Arising from that assessment in May 2004, a number of recommendations were made for improvement and members were provided with details of progression on implementing those recommendations.

Members in receiving the report suggested that mystery shopping should be an ongoing process. It was felt that in the short-term a scenario similar to the one used previously should be used in order to make comparisons, however, in the long-term members agreed that a more experimental scenario should be used. The MPS, in noting members’ comments, raised the issue of mystery shopping being financially viable. It was also suggested that smaller more regional based quality assurance exercises could be undertaken on an on-going basis. The MPS invited the MPA’s involvement in establishing future exercises.

The Chair suggested that future reports could include details of a breakdown of details of the exercise in BOCUs, which could be taken in the exempt part of a meeting.

Resolved – That the report noted.

66. Cambridge University research into disproportionality

(Agenda item 7)

A report was considered that provided members with an update into the research into disproportionality being undertaken by the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge University on behalf of the MPS. Members were advised that the anticipated interim report from the research term was not available in time for presentation at the meeting.

Members were reminded that the aim of the research was to identify strategic solutions that will reassure the community, in particular black and minority ethnic communities. In addition, another aim was to secure the support of the MPS police officers and staff in regard to the MPS response to diversity.

The report confirmed that phases 1 (research agenda) and 2 (review of relevant data) were now complete and that phase 3, the research programme into the two main aims of research was being undertaken. The MPS confirmed that they were anticipating delivery of the interim report from the Cambridge University research team in mid-June.

It was agreed that when the interim report was received from the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge University that it be circulated to members, prior to a fuller discussion at a future meeting.

Resolved – That the MPS report be noted.

67. Assistant Commissioner review decisions

(Agenda item 8)

Members received a report that outlined cases of police officers that had been subjected to a misconduct board and an Assistant Commissioner’s Review. Members were invited to comment and select any particular cases for further consideration at a future meeting.

The report also outlined a proposal for the development of training for the MPS Management Board in relation to the new Police Misconduct Regulations 2004. This training would take account of the expanded role of Assistant Commissioners’ (AC) in the misconduct process, in particular, their role in hearing ‘fast track’ cases under regulation 40 schedule 2.

In welcoming the proposed development of training of MPS Management Board, the Committee raised a number issues relating to review decisions including the urgent need for consistency in decisions and clear guidelines.

Members requested more detailed information in respect of two cases in which officers were involved in multiple or repeat offences, and in relation to a Assistant Commission’s Review decision, where the sanction was varied from a requirement to resign to a fine.

Resolved - That

1. the report be noted and that more detailed information be provided to Members in respect of three individual cases. in anticipation of the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee (PSCC) meeting scheduled for 8 September 2005; and
2. members note that arrangements for the MPS Management Board members to receive training on the new police misconduct regulations (2004), which were introduced as a result of the Police Reform Act 2002, and that the training will cover the expanded role of Assistant Commissioners’ (AC) in the misconduct process, in particular, their role in hearing ‘fast track’ cases under regulation 40 schedule 2.

68. Directorate of Professional Standards review programme

(Agenda item 9)

A report was considered that outlined the rationale and proposals for the review of existing practices and structures within the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS). Members were informed that the proposed programme would be an integrated DPS response to the Morris Inquiry, Taylor Report, Racial Equality Commissioners report and the Ghaffur report.

The report outlined the strategic aims and scope of the programme and details of its anticipated implementation.

The Committee suggested that inclusion of the Crown Prosecution Service in a proposed Challenge Panel maybe beneficial.

Resolved – that

1. that the strategic aims and scope of the DPS review set out in the report be approved;
2. the time frames and costs (£426,070) anticipated in delivering the review be noted.

69. HMIC thematic inspection of Directorate of Professional Standards

(Agenda item 10)

The Committee welcomed Sir Ronnie Flanagan of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC), who briefed members on the forthcoming HMIC inspection of the MPS Directorate of Professional Standards.

As part of the inspection process members suggested that in-put from the chairs of police appeals panels, possibly at focus group level, could be beneficial.

Resolved – That the report be received.

70. Dip sampling and case management

(Agenda item 11)

The Deputy Chief Executive provided members with an oral update on the progress on developing a dip sampling and case management process.

It was noted that a protocol on the process of dip sampling and case management would be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

Resolved – That the report be noted and that the Committee receive the protocol on the process of dip sampling and case management at its next meeting.

71. Responding to the report of the Morris Inquiry - update

(Agenda item 12)

Members received an update report on the work of committee and the Steering Group in taking forward the recommendations of the Morris Inquiry report.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

72. Annual report

(Agenda item 13)

The Committee received its annual report. The report outlined a summary of key issues and decisions that had been considered by the Committee. These included: work related to the Morris Inquiry; development of working relations with the newly formed Independent Police Complaints Commission; the continuation of the oversight of police complaints and discipline; development of a professional standards strategy; and the promotion of the local resolution and the use of restorative justice.

Members requested that the work of the Senior Officers Sub-Committee be included in the report.

Resolved – That the annual report be approved, subject to inclusion of detail of the work of the Senior Officers Conduct Sub-Committee and recommended to the full Authority for ratification.

73. Exclusion of Press and Public

(Agenda item 14)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during items 15 to 19 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 15 to 19.

Summary of exempt items

74. Summary of suspended police officers as at 20 May 2005

(Agenda item 15)

The Committee considered a report that outlined details of suspended police officers.

75. Information in relation to  the case of Mr Russell Grundle

(Agenda item 16)

A report was received that provided members with details of a death of a person in police custody.

76. Summary of exceptional and significant cases

(Agenda item 17)

A report was received that summarised exceptional and significant results.

77. Application for funding for legal representation

(Agenda item 18)

Members considered an application for funding for legal representation.

78. Minutes (Part 2)

(Agenda item 19)

Members received the minutes (Part 2) of the Committee meeting held on 14 April 2005 and noted the Senior Officers Conduct Sub-Committee minutes (Part 2) of the meeting held on 114 April and 12 May 2005.

The Committee closed at 4.15 pm

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