Metropolitan Police Authority – March meeting

19/07
28 March 2007

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 29 March 2007 at 10.00 a.m.

The meeting will discuss Every Child Matters outlining the duties laid out for police authorities in the Children Act 2004.

Len Duvall, chair of the MPA, said:

“Following the tragic death of Victoria Climbié, which that highlighted woeful inadequacies in childcare provision, the government acted to introduce a new approach to caring for children. Every Child Matters, incorporated within the Children Act 2004 seeks to provide a more joined up approach to safeguarding children.

“This means that all agencies involved with providing services to children, including the police, should be teaming up in new ways, sharing information and working together to protect children from harm.

“The MPA has worked with the MPS to progress recommendations made in Lord Laming's report and established robust oversight of police force activity and performance, particularly in SCD5, while also ensuring the MPS youth policy is fit for purpose. In addition, the MPS Every Child Matters Programme Board has been established to coordinate the implications of this programme across Territorial Policing and Specialist Crime.

“The MPA is noted as a leading authority for its oversight and scrutiny of MPS performance in child protection and youth policy. But while oversight of police force activity is a major part of police authority compliance with the Act, it is not enough on its own. So the Association of Police Authorities, actively assisted by the MPA, has developed clear guidance for national police authority policy, placing further duties on them to help meet the legislative requirements of the Act by 2008.

“This guidance concentrates, amongst other things, on ensuring an authority's commitment to children and young people, actively listening and responding to their views and those of their families together with a clear statement of an authority's responsibilities.

“The MPA will continue to work with the MPS to ensure this important programme is delivered promptly and improves the services we offer to young people across the capital.”

Other items on the agenda include:

• MPA and NHS joint review of mental health and policing – an update on progress to the joint review of June 2006;
• Independent Advisory Group review – an update on the review which intends to provide a model for engagement with IAGs across the MPS;
• the MPA Disability Equality scheme 2006 – 2009; and
• ratification of the MPA’s new Independent member.

Commissioner Sir Ian Blair will give an update on operational policing issues in London and present a written performance report.

Please note: the Commissioner's update will take place as near to 12:00 as possible, discussion permitting.

Notes to editors

1. The committee papers for this meeting can be found at:
   www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2007/070329/default.htm
2. Confidential anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 321
3. Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

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