Metropolitan Police Authority – April meeting

25/06
26 April 2006

A meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) will be held in meeting room 1 (ground floor), 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1 on Thursday 27 April 2006 at 10.00 a.m.

Members will receive a report that outlines additional powers for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) made available by the Serious and Organised Crime Act 2005. The MPS does not intend to designate all the new powers available in the Act, in order to preserve the existing PCSO role in London.

Len Duvall, chair of the MPA, said:

“Police Community Support Officers are a very important part of the police family, providing valuable support to police officers, protection for Londoners and helping to deter criminal activities.

“Internal consultation and research has shown that the powers proposed by the Serious and Organised Crime Act 2005 would mean an increase in training of up to four weeks for each newly recruited PCSO and for those in post but more importantly would distort the proper focus of PCSOs on their Safer Neighbourhood role.

“We will work with the MPS to retain the current distinction between PCSOs and police officers, and continue to focus the PCSO role on reassurance and community engagement.”

Other subjects to be discussed by the Authority at the meeting include:

• a proposal to create a central London training centre;
• Independent Advisory Groups – a consistent approach; and
• Homicide and Serious Crime command – investigating homicides.
  Commissioner Sir Ian Blair will give an update on operational policing issues in London and present a written performance report.

Two petitions will also be presented to the Authority:

• a petition signed by 1,460 people calling for more police on the beat in Chipping Barnet is to be presented by Mrs. Theresa Villiers MP; and
• a second petition signed by 1,500 people calling for additional recourses for policing on the Isle of Dogs is to be presented by Philip Briscoe.

Notes to editors

The committee papers for this meeting can be found at www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2006/060427.

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

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