Metropolitan Police Authority - July meeting

59/04
28 July 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 29 July at 10.00 a.m.
Issues concerning immigration detainees in MPS custody will be considered by members. Cindy Butts, Deputy Chair of the MPA said:

“The MPA Community Engagement Committee (previously the Consultation Committee) has highlighted several areas of concern relating to immigration detainees. For example the number of detainees and their length of stay is a contributory factor to increasing cell shortage across London and police custody suite facilities are inappropriate for the purpose of holding immigration detainees.

“Representation was made to the Home Office and although a response has been received, I will be meeting with the Immigration Minister, Des Browne, to discuss the Home Office position further and to explore ways in which we can improve the current situation.”

Members will discuss the Home Office response and two further reports requested by the MPA to address this issue. The Metropolitan Police internal consultancy group completed a six-month review of MPS wide custody capability, presented to the Planning Performance and Review Committee, which is now within the MPA’s formal best value monitoring process. The MPS will also present a report to the authority, which addresses the difficulties in balancing the needs of the MPS against supporting the Immigration Service and the Home Office.

Other items on the agenda include:

• mental health and policing joint review;
• restraint review; and
• appointment of MPA link members.

Deputy Commissioner Sir Ian Blair will give an oral update on operational policing issues in London and a written performance report. Len Duvall, MPA chair, Catherine Crawford, MPA clerk, and members will give oral updates on MPA issues.

Members will also hear two questions from members of the public:

1. From Mr Mark Beattie:

“Please can the MPA provide information about the resources provided in the Finsbury Park area. There appears to be sufficient policing resources to accommodate the illegal protests outside the Finsbury Park Mosque, but insufficient to protect members of the public and their property from attack as witnessed on the BBC Local News on 9 July 2004.”

2. From Mr Paul Webbewood:

“Following the recent finding by the Bar Council that Mr Peter Herbert was in breach of its code of conduct, what action is being taken to determine whether Mr Herbert may also be in breach of Paragraph 4 of the MPA’s code of conduct?”

The Clerk to the Authority, Catherine Crawford will give the Authority's responses at the meeting. 

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback