MPA Full Authority - May Meeting

39/04
25 May 2004

A meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority will be held in meeting room 1 (ground floor), 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1 on Thursday 27 May at 10.00 a.m.

Members will be discussing the stop and search scrutiny report published by the equal opportunities and diversity board (EODB) on 20 May 2004.

Cecile Wright, chair of the scrutiny panel and the EODB said:

“We fully appreciate and recognise the enormous efforts that the Metropolitan Police have undertaken in recent years to improve police and community relations.

“However historically, stop and search has resulted in distrust and levels of disengagement by those Londoners who are repeatedly stopped and searched. This is of great concern to the MPA because the way in which the police use stop and search is crucial to community relations.

“We concluded that the negative and disproportionate impact of the present stop and search rates couldn’t be tolerated in London. The cost of current practice, both in police and community relations and resources, is simply too great. It is imperative that swift and effective implementation of the recommendations we proposed be taken.

“I am pleased that Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens has accepted the report and I am very honoured to have been asked by the Met to assist them in progressing the implementation of recommendations. This is a significant step for the Met and I strongly commend the Commissioner on his bold and visionary leadership.”

In all 55 recommendations were made, an implementation plan will be developed and progress reported back to the MPA in September.

Issues concerning immigration detainees in MPS custody will also be considered by members. Recently the Metropolitan Police internal consultancy group completed a six-month review of custody capability throughout the Metropolitan Police Service, which will be presented to the MPA’s planning performance and review committee on 12 July 2004.

Other subjects to be discussed include:

• MPA annual report 2003/4;
• MPA committee structure;
• action taken under delegated authority.

Sir John Stevens will give an update on operational policing issues in London and Toby Harris, MPA chair, Catherine Crawford, MPA clerk, and members will give oral updates on MPA issues.

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