Metropolitan Police Authority – 'Counter-Terrorism: The London Debate' - Commissioner Hears Young People's Concerns

38/06
30 June 2006

Young people from across London met on 29 June 2006 at the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) to discuss counter-terrorism policing in the capital and their reactions to it.

‘Counter-Terrorism: The London Debate’ also gave them the opportunity to put their concerns to another invitee, Sir Ian Blair, who had been listening to the issues they had raised.

Toby Harris, chair of the MPA panel that listened to presentations and questions from the invited audience of young people, said:

“The first ‘Counter-Terrorism: The London Debate’ session was hugely successful. It was a steep learning curve for both the MPA and the Commissioner and demonstrated both the reservations and expectations that young people from all communities have about how London is policed. I would like to thank everyone who came, including the Commissioner, and who communicated their ideas so clearly and strongly about such a difficult and emotive subject.

“Major themes which emerged during the evening included:

• the way that police interact with young people is crucial. If it is not good, it will affect the community’s confidence in their police service as a whole. Police must communicate better with young people, go to places where young people go, and use everyday language, not police jargon;
• disrespectful treatment of young people over minor issues will lead to a lack of trust which will then impact on the major issues such as counter-terrorism – the police are judged by their actions across the board;
• the police would gain more respect and support if they were more open and less cautious - they need to tell people about their successes and find better ways of telling the public through the media about terrorist threats, especially if they have to adopt difficult or controversial tactics;
• the way in which stop and search is carried out, particularly under the Terrorism Act, needs to be reviewed as it alienates whole swathes of young Londoners whom police need to be working with in the fight against terrorism; and
• police should not target or stigmatise communities, and there has to be respect for different cultures and beliefs.

“This was the first in a series of meetings organised by the MPA to ask London communities for their input into counter-terrorism policing. It will be hard work and may not make easy listening but it is essential if we are to maintain public confidence.

“The MPA wants to involve communities fully in the fight against terrorism, but Londoners have to trust that what is being done by the Met in their name is appropriate. If the police and security services are to be effective, we have to listen to what Londoners are telling us and work hard to create confidence, co-operation and support among all our communities.”

Notes to editors

1. Toby Harris, MPA member with special responsibility for counter-terrorism, Cindy Butts and Reshard Auladin, both deputy chairs of the MPA, form the MPA panel which hears evidence presented by invited communities. There will also be external guest panellists at each hearing.

2.  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. The first hearing on 29 June 2006 was attended by the Commissioner.

3. 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

4. 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

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

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

7. Confidential anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 321

8. Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

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