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This page contains press release 91/04, which reports that the MPA's Community Engagement Committee today endorsed the findings and recommendations of an independent review intended to ensure a fair and equitable police service for London’s disabled community.
Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).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 – working to address the specific needs of disabled people in London
91/04
2 December 2004
The Metropolitan Police Authority’s Community Engagement Committee today endorsed the findings and recommendations of an independent review intended to ensure a fair and equitable police service for London’s disabled community.
The MPA commissioned Greater London Action on Disability (GLAD) to produce a report and hold a conference on policing issues affecting disabled people. The report, ‘Disabled people and the police – a new relationship’, provides clear directions by which the MPA and MPS can offer a fair police service to London’s disabled people.
The Authority will establish an oversight group comprising MPA members together with MPS staff, representatives of the disabled community and the GLA’s Senior Disability Co-ordinator to oversee MPS implementation of the recommendations.
Kirsten Hearn, MPA independent member, said:
“The report submitted to the MPA by GLAD, and the subsequent feedback from the conference we held in October, provide clear recommendations about how we can progress real and practical solutions to provide disabled Londoners with equality of service.
“Having discussed the issues widely I know that many disabled Londoners are extremely pleased that the police have now made a commitment to address their specific needs. The barriers that society in general imposes on us can and should be contested and removed to provide truly equal service provision.
“Providing effective training is of vital importance. Our police officers need to know how to respond appropriately to disabled people’s needs. We look to the oversight group to ensure that the challenges of implementation are now tackled head on and anticipate a constructive working relationship.”
Notes to editors
1. Greater London Action on Disability (GLAD) is a pan-London community-based umbrella organisation of disabled people.
2. ‘Disabled people and the police – a new relationship?’ the conference was held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference, London, on Thursday 7 October.
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