'Counter-Terrorism: The London Debate' - Metropolitan Police Authority hears how terrorism affects capital's democracy and economy

39/06
5 July 2006

‘Counter-Terrorism: The London Debate’ is the MPA's programme of community engagement to counter terrorism. The second hearing will be held on Thursday 6 July 2006, when invited representatives from business, tourism and local government will be able to recount their experiences and voice their concerns to the MPA.

Six hearings have been organised by the MPA to give specifically invited London communities the opportunity to express their views about counter-terrorism policing to a panel of MPA members. The first hearing on Thursday 29 June 2006 enabled young Londoners to put their views to the MPA’s guest, the Commissioner of the Met, Sir Ian Blair.

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

“In our second meeting we will be listening to people who are crucial to maintaining our capital’s success and infrastructure. Representatives from local government, business and tourism will be asked for their views on the issues that they believe are important in respect of counter-terrorism and how best to engage communities and the interests that they represent in the process. The MPA has also invited Assistant Commissioner Steve House, head of the Serious Crime Directorate, to respond to the issues raised.

“Local authorities have an important role in disaster-management by ensuring the critical infrastructure is maintained, communities are protected as fully as possible, and people are well informed in such an event. Similarly, business resilience to terrorist attack is essential to protect London’s private sector, which is the engine room of the UK economy. Contingency and continuity now have to be an integral part of business planning. London is a leading world capital, and tourism is vital to its status. The MPA and the MPS need to know how counter-terrorism policing impacts on our visitors and how the bombings last year affected tourism.

“All these perspectives on London life are vital to providing Londoners with a strong, integrated approach to fighting terrorism. Their knowledge and lessons learnt are crucial for us to piece together a jigsaw of experience which will help us, together with the MPS, make London as safe as possible for everyone who works and lives here, as well as our visitors.

“Good police intelligence comes from people knowing what is going on around them. The MPA wants to foster a sense of public ownership of the problems and the solutions so we can work together with all Londoners to help prevent future terrorist attacks.”

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 that hears evidence presented by invited communities.

2. There will also be external guest panellists at each hearing. For the hearing on 6 July the guest panellist will be Professor Tariq Ramadan of Oxford University.

3. 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. The hearing on 6 July will be attended by Assistant Commissioner Steve House.

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

8. Confidential anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 321

9. Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

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