Metropolitan Police Authority – Counter-Terrorism: The London Debate

36/06
21 June 2006

‘Counter-Terrorism: The London Debate’ is the MPA's programme of community engagement to counter-terrorism.

Following the terrorist outrages of July 2005, the 'Together Against Terror?' community conference was organised by the MPA on 12 December 2005 at Central Hall Westminster. The aim was to enable Londoners to communicate to the MPS their considerations and concerns about policing the terrorist threat.

The MPA is now committed to continuing the work started by the conference. On Thursday 29 June 2006 the first of six hearings organised by the MPA will give specifically invited London communities the opportunity to express their views about counter-terrorism policing to a panel of MPA members.

Toby Harris, chair of the panel and member with special responsibility for counter-terrorism, said:

“Communities must be involved fully in the fight against terrorism. This should be the golden thread that runs through the response of the police and other agencies. Effective resilience against terrorism can only be achieved with community support and engagement. This help and support from our communities is essential if the police and security services are to be effective in dealing with the threat of terrorism.

“Good police intelligence gathering relies on people knowing what is going on around them in their work places and neighbourhoods and then trusting their local police enough to communicate these issues to them.

“Harnessing the expertise of the extended police family and the population of London is the best way we have of defeating terrorism. We must listen to what Londoners are telling us and work hard to create confidence, co-operation and support among all our communities.”

Toby Harris will be joined by Cindy Butts and Reshard Auladin, both deputy chairs of the MPA, to form a panel to hear evidence presented to them. There will also be external guest panellists at each hearing.

A senior MPS officer will be invited to each session to provide an initial response to the communities’ issues and then take questions from the group,

At the first hearing on 29 June 2006, a group of young people will be able to put their questions to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Ian Blair.

Toby Harris concluded:

“By fostering a sense of public ownership of the problems and their solutions, the MPA hopes to increase the likelihood of generating future community intelligence, and therefore to help prevent future terrorist attacks.”

The programme for the six hearings is:

• Thursday 29 June - young people
• Thursday 6 July – councillors, business and tourism representatives
• Thursday 7 September - faith groups
• Thursday 5 October - women
• Thursday 16 November - Asian men
• Thursday 7 December - police and government

Following on from these hearings the work will include:

• six confidential focus groups with students in London universities and colleges, to discuss extremist recruitment and radicalisation on campus
• thirty-two local consultations - one in every London borough
• analysis of qualitative data received through the MPA website
• a publication, featuring contributions from practitioners, commentators and community representatives

Notes to editors

1. Attendance at this programme of events is by invitation only.

2. Further information about the MPA’s programme of events can be found at: www.mpa.gov.uk/issues/counterterrorism/default.htm

3. Confidential anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 321

4. Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

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