'Counter-Terrorism: The London Debate' - police and government respond to Londoners' views

74/06
6 December 2006

Londoners who participated in a series of hearings exploring how the capital’s diverse communities can work together and with police to tackle terrorism, will hear their views put to the two most senior police and government counter-terrorism officials at the final hearing on Thursday, 7 December.

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

The sixth and final hearing in the programme takes place tomorrow, Thursday 7 December, and will be held before an invited audience of Londoners who have participated in one of the five preceding hearings.

The guest speakers are Andy Hayman, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner in charge of counter-terrorism, and William Nye, director of counter-terrorism and intelligence at the Home Office.

Panellists for the evening, who will put Londoners’ questions to Mr Hayman and Mr Nye, are event chair Toby Harris, Metropolitan Police Authority member with special responsibilities for counter-terrorism, Reshard Auladin and Cindy Butts, MPA deputy chairs, Professor Tariq Ramadan, visiting professor Oxford University, and Frank Gardner, security correspondent with the BBC.

Toby Harris said:

“This event will bring to a close the MPA’s programme of pan-London consultative activity on counter-terrorism. A comprehensive report will be presented to a meeting of the MPA on 22 February 2007, containing the findings and recommendations emerging from the programme.

“This is the last opportunity during this current programme for the police and government to respond publicly to the messages Londoners have been communicating to us about how they think we should tackle terrorism in the capital. We believe it is vital to discuss these important issues as transparently as possible.”

Notes to editors

1. The hearing is on Thursday 7 December starts at 6pm at the MPA headquarters: 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY (nearest tube St. James’s Park).

2. Media are invited to attend but we request no filming or audio recording apart from during the opening remarks.

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. In addition to these hearings this work includes:

• a series of confidential focus groups with students in London universities 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, although media representatives are welcome to attend.

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

9. Communities Together helpline: 0800 028 2390

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

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