Contents
This page contains issues of the MPA Direct November 2008 issue.
Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).
See the MOPC website for further information.
MPA Direct - November 2008
Issue 2
This issue of MPA Direct is available as PDF document. Or alternatively a summary version is available below.
MPA: November meeting
The Metropolitan Police Authority met in the Chamber at City Hall on
Thursday 27 November for the monthly full Authority meeting. Chairman of the MPA, Mayor Boris Johnson, paid tribute to Commissioner Sir Ian Blair on his penultimate day in office, praising his 34
years of committed service ensuring the safety and protection of the public, and wished him well.
Sir Ian said he hoped his successor would get the mayor's "unequivocal" support as "it is a very difficult job."
Several members of the Authority praised Sir Ian’s dedication to duty and noted his great contribution, especially his work to modernise the Met, the introduction of Police Community Support Officers and the Safer Neighbourhoods initiative.
The Authority discussed the terms of reference for the MPA Race and Faith Inquiry. Boris Johnson said,
“As one of the capital’s largest and most important employers, the Metropolitan Police Service has a duty to reflect and understand the communities it serves.
“It is clear that over the last ten years great progress has been made in dealing with race and faith related issues. However, we cannot
afford to be complacent. Londoners must have confidence that progress will continue, and I look forward to a positive and constructive
outcome from this inquiry.”
Cindy Butts, who will chair the Inquiry panel said:
“The Inquiry, which will run from January until May 2009, will focus on race and faith issues in the Met.
“Our aim is to find out how we can bring about real cultural change in the Met, encourage open dialogue about diversity and ensure all employees feel secure and confident in their working environment.
“We cannot ignore the potential for internal difficulties to impact on community police relations in London. It is crucial the Met has the confidence of London’s diverse communities in order to tackle successfully the major policing issues in London today – combating terrorism and gun and knife crime.
“The Inquiry panel will be researching and gathering information from a broad range of individuals and organisations from within the Met, including staff focus groups, and we will be identifying areas of best practice within the public and private sectors. We intend to report back to the MPA in May 2009, with recommendations for next steps.”
Anthony Julius and Bob Purkiss were confirmed as Inquiry Panel members, with a third person to be confirmed shortly.
The Committee paper and Terms of Reference for Race and Faith Inquiry can be found at: www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2008/081127/07.htm
Community Engagement Groups: partnership in action
Providing independent support and information to London’s Safer Neighbourhoods Panels and Community Police Engagement Groups
The Community Engagement Programme (CEP) is
an exciting new partnership between the MPA, MPS and Safer London Foundation, the charitable arm of the Met established by the Authority in 2004. It aims to provide support and information to Safer
Neighbourhood Panel (SNP) Members and Community Police Engagement Groups (CPEGs) throughout London.
The pilot phase of CEP was held in 4 London boroughs (Barnet, Bromley, Hackney, Southwark) in late 2007. Feedback gathered from the 60 panel chairs and reps who attended the seminars was entirely positive and in late September this year the SLF began rolling out the project across all 32 London boroughs, in a programme funded in partnership with the Authority and the MPS.
All three partners recognise the important role played by Panel members and are committed to the success of CEP.
The CEP will provide Chairs and panel members with:
- information sharing in areas of common interest
- an e-learning option i.e. a CD-ROM containing all the material delivered at the seminars
- opportunities for sharing good practice and networking
- Problem Solving Awareness
- Antisocial Behaviour Awareness
- Understanding the Extended Policing Family & Partnerships
More information, including seminar dates for the programme, can be found at: www.saferlondonfoundation.org
Seen and Heard: young people, policing and crime, an MPA report
Between September 2007 and May 2008 the MPA undertook a youth consultation examining the causes, effects and impacts of young people's involvement in crime as victims, witnesses and perpetrators and how this influenced their interactions with the police. In particular we looked at the impact of these interactions on young people’s perceptions of the police and other service providers who are there to serve and protect them.
Over 1,000 young people and adults who work with young people took part in the youth consultation. The consultation culminated in four large events with young people in different parts of London. The Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, attended the central London event, so young people who took part had the opportunity to put questions directly to London’s top cop.
The consultation findings are published in a final report, ‘Seen and Heard’, containing recommendations for change: the vast majority are aimed at the MPS, but there is also advice for other agencies.
Whilst recognising that the MPA only has jurisdiction over the MPS, in developing the recommendations, we also needed to recognise one key Finding: namely that long term sustained solutions to tackle youth crime can only be developed through effective partnership responses.
The MPS recommendations will inform the continual development and revision of the MPS youth strategy. MPA officers will continue to meet with other partner agencies to highlight and promote the non policing recommendations.
Copies of ‘Seen and Heard’ are now available from the MPA. A youth version of the report is also available. Both are available on the MPA website. For hardcopies please email: Hameraasfa.davey@mpa.gov.uk
Nomination for the inaugural APA Awards 2008
The MPA drew together a broadly based project board of partners (including the GMPA) to produce this DVD. The GMPA, working with local partners including Manchester City Council, produced the Resource Pack.
Following the MPA’s scrutiny into S&S in London, the project partners identified the need for tools which would: explore what S&S is, the various basis on which it is used, and why it is sometimes controversial: assist with training the police in the use of S&S powers; help inform the public, in particular young people, about their rights when they encounter S&S; and help improve trust and confidence of both the police and the public in the appropriate use of S&S powers.
The resource pack enables groups, especially young people, to explore S&S and discuss the issues raised in the DVD. The activities draw upon existing good practice with police and communities highlighted by young people, teachers, youth workers, independent advisory groups, police schools liaison and community liaison officers.
Four thousand copies of the DVD and resource pack have been distributed to schools, youth and community groups across London, working through Safer Schools Partnership Officers. The DVD is available to view on the MPA website: www.mpa.gov.uk/scrutinies/stopsearch/go-wisely.htm
Race Hate Crime Forum: Visit to Toronto and Ottawa
The London Race Hate Crime Forum travelled to Canada this November on a visit sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This followed a successful visit last year to Atlanta and Washington DC.
It was a fact finding mission to share the differences and similarities in addressing hate crime and related policing issues, as well as good practice. The party included Bennett Obong and Christopher Boothman (MPA), Peter Herbert, David Macnaghten (MPS), Cordell Pillay (Probation Service) and James Riches (Nacro).
In Toronto the delegates met with the Association of Chiefs of Ontario Diversity Committee; provincial, federal and regional police services; hate crimes and LGBT Officers; the Ontario Human Rights Commission; and the University of Toronto Centre for Criminology. The group also met with Canadian MPs, and Ontario’s Attorney General.
Moving onto Ottawa the delegation met B’nai Brith, a Jewish community NGO; the High Commissioner; the Ontario opposition leader, the Ottawa Police Department; the Commission for Canadian Human Rights; and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Delegates also visited the Toronto District School Board which is in the process of opening the first BME only school in Canada to support and increase BME student achievement.
We received amazing hospitality and were treated with great politeness throughout our stay, despite the average temperature ranging between -5c to -8c in the sun, with the wind chill factor bringing it down to -17c!
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And finally…..
Everyone at the MPA wishes you all a very peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. We would appreciate your feedback on MPA Direct
Please contact us by email at communications@mpa.gov.uk
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