Links with MPS complaints and discipline

Report: 10
Date: 10 October 2000
By: Clerk 

Summary

This paper addresses how members of the Professional Standards and Performance Monitoring Committee will ‘review’ complaints and discipline cases.

A. Supporting information

1. This paper addresses how members of the Professional Standards and Performance Monitoring Committee (PSPM) can carry out their responsibilities under section 77 of the Police Act 1996. This requires the MPA to keep itself informed of the workings of the complaints and discipline system in the Metropolitan Police Service. This means it must keep abreast of those cases in which it is not directly involved. This paper specifically addresses the issue of monitoring and reviewing the action taken in dealing with complaints against police officers.

2. One option would be to make unannounced visits to complaints units. These "cold call" visits would ensure that Members have an unscripted view of their work. The disadvantage with this approach is that complaints files may not be readily available, investigating officers may not be present to discuss or explain the actions taken in any particular case and there will be no opportunity to discuss potentially high profile cases or current or emerging trends.

3. The preferred option would be to agree a programme of visits for 3 or 6 months and subsequently at each meeting of the PSPM to finalise a number of planned visits to complaints units for the following month and identify a number of completed or current complaints cases which Members will wish to review. It will also enable investigating officers to be available to discuss or explain the actions taken in a particular case, any potentially high profile cases and any current or emerging trends.

B. Recommendations

That the PSPM agree the process outlined at paragraph 3 for reviewing current or completed complaints cases.

C. Financial implications

Members will be able to claim for expenses incurred on such visits.

D. Review arrangements

This process will be under regular review at each PSPM meeting.

E. Background papers

The following is a statutory list of background papers (under the Local Government Act 1972 S.100 D) which disclose facts or matters on which the report is based and which have been relied on to a material extent in preparing this report. They are available on request to either the contact officer listed above or to the Clerk to the Police Authority at the address indicated on the agenda.

• Section 77 of the Police Act 1996.

F. Contact details

The author of this report is Alan Johnson.

For information contact:

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

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