Cambridge University research into disproportionality

Report: 10
Date: 10 November 2005
By: Commissioner

Summary

At the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee (PSCC) meeting on 8 September, Members were provided with an update and interim report on the research into disproportionality that is being conducted by Cambridge University Institute of Criminology. At that meeting Members also confirmed that they would like to receive regular updates on the progress of the research.

Since the last meeting Dr Matravers has held focus groups with the Metropolitan Black Police Association (MBPA) and the Metropolitan Police Sikh Association and is in the process of finalising arrangements with other staff associations. Two emerging findings from the focus groups are;

1. Widely differing attitudes and beliefs regarding the causes of disproportionality among individuals from different ethnic backgrounds; and
2. the need for the Directorate of Professional Services (DPS) to continue to build the trust and confidence of all members of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

Analysis of the data relating to external and internal complaints matters is reaching completion and the research team anticipate releasing substantive findings in December 2005. These findings will generate important information about characteristics of complaint-generating incidents.

A. Recommendations

That Members note the report.

B. Supporting information

Background (Research Update)

Quantitative study

1. The Cambridge University research team is currently finalising data analysis of external data. Following the meeting with Dr Matravers in August, they plan to focus attention on the internal data. This analysis will shed light on the nature of incidents involving black and minority ethnic officers, and on the investigations process (including the decision-making of managers and gate keepers).

2. Analysis of the data is reaching completion and it is anticipated that substantive findings will be available in December 2005. These findings will generate important information about search patterns and the characteristics of complaint-generating incidents.

3. The current phase of the qualitative study involves focus group interviews with members of the MPS’s staff associations. These are complex to organise, and involve the participation of officers outside their normal duties. Unsurprisingly therefore, and in spite of the best efforts it has proved difficult to schedule these groups. However, the two groups held so far (with officers representing the Sikh Association and the Black Police Association) have been extremely valuable and yielded some very interesting and unexpected results.

4. Since the second group only finished on Wednesday 19 October 2005, it is not possible to provide extensive findings at this time. However, two emerging findings that it may be worth mentioning at this point are:

• Widely differing attitudes and beliefs regarding the causes of disproportionality among individuals from different ethnic backgrounds; and
• The need for the DPS to continue to build the trust and confidence of all members of the MPS.

5. The research team will carry out more focus groups in order to ensure that we gather a full range of beliefs and opinions. In particular, they propose re-scheduling the group representing Muslim officers – this was cancelled due to the unavailability of the individuals involved.

6. The focus group interviews are intended to inform and direct the interview stage of the research. This stage, involving interviews with key individuals, should be less complicated to organise and will involve multiple interviewers, so could probably be completed by the end of the year (access allowing).

7. Interdependence between external/internal disproportionality
At this stage, and prior to completion of the sub-sample analysis, the research team cannot give a definitive answer to this question. However, they remain convinced that disproportionality is a phenomenon that the MPS would be wise to factor into their thinking in relation to the future direction and the Review of DPS.

List of abbreviations

PSCC

Professional Standards and Complaints Committee

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

MBPA

Metropolitan Black Police Association

DPS

Directorate of Professional Standards

C. Race and equality impact

If the MPS is to move forward and look for operational solutions to the outcome of the research then there will be significant race and diversity considerations.

D. Financial implications

The cost of the research up to the point of submission of the interim report is £43,000. Negotiations are continuing in order to determine the cost of the remaining phases and the final report.

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

Report author(s): Dr. Amanda Matravers and Detective Chief Superintendent Carl Bussey, Directorate of Professional Standards

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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