Response to William Hague speech on policing by Chair of MPA

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15 December 2000

Toby Harris, Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, today responded to the speech by William Hague to the Centre for Policy Studies in London. Addressing the issues raised by William Hague, Toby Harris said:

‘The intervention by William Hague is less than helpful and conflicts with his previous statement on the Macpherson Report.

‘The MPA takes the implications of the death of Stephen Lawrence very seriously. We are also aware that Stop and Search is an extremely sensitive issue within the community as a whole. Stop and Search should only be used when it is appropriate to do so.

‘London contains some of the most extreme pressures on policing in the country and low police morale cannot be attributed to just one factor, the Macpherson Report.

‘Deriding the major strides the police service has made over the past two years post Macpherson is extraordinary. It does nothing to raise the morale of police officers who have worked extremely hard in that time to implement the report’s recommendations.

‘Indeed, the report has been embraced by all three police associations who are working with Ministers to implement its recommendations, one of which was specifically that powers of Stop and Search “should remain unchanged”. (Recommendation 60).

‘Extensive research findings have established that “used properly, Stop and Search can increase community confidence in police and make a positive contribution to reducing the fear of crime”.

‘The MPS has drawn up detailed guidelines for officers who have prime responsibilities for Stop and Search. These are based on recommendations contained in the Home Office report “The Impact of Stops and Searches on Crime and the Community”.

‘The MPA is working to address other important issues such as police numbers and pay. For example, current budgetary provisions plan for a further 1,000 officers on the streets of London. Figures show that the substantial pay increase of £3,500 awarded to newly recruited London officers is beginning to effect recruitment positively.

‘Policing in London requires policing with the consent of all our communities so that the Capital becomes a safer city for everyone. It is essential that we work to build trust between the ethnic communities and the police.

‘Adopting the recommendations in the Macpherson Report is an important element of this process and integral to the positive changes now taking place in the Met.’

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