Metropolitan Police Authority - September meeting

41/07
3 September 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 6 September 2007 at 10.00 a.m.

Members of the Authority will consider a report from the MPS that outlines its response to the IPCC report of the Stockwell 2 investigation. This examined the handling of public statements following the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes on 22 July 2005.

Len Duvall, chair of the MPA, said:

“The background to the IPCC report is the tragic death of Jean Charles de Menezes. He became the 53rd victim, along with many injured, caused by terrorism in the capital in July 2005.

“The IPCC report of the Stockwell 2 investigation does not make comfortable reading for either the MPA or the MPS, and following its publication in July, I asked the MPS to respond fully to the report at a meeting of the full Authority which I brought forward to Thursday 6 September.

“Both the Commissioner and his senior management team, along with MPA officials, have assured me that the recommendations from Stockwell 1 and 2, along with further work we have undertaken, have been implemented.

“The IPCC is an independent organisation which I value. I firmly believe, along with the MPS, that their work is an integral part of ensuring the accountability of the police service.

“I am confident that the whole of the MPS, both individuals and the organisation, has learned lessons from this tragic event. Two years on, the MPS is now in a very different place on all issues relating to Stockwell.

“Londoners must be able to trust what their police service tells them, especially in circumstances where they are being asked to be vigilant and maintain high levels of awareness. Trust in this information is absolutely paramount and in many circumstances can be a vital message of reassurance.

“The Authority will continue to work to ensure that the MPS’s internal methods of working and communications are efficient and effective. Members will consider whether the MPS should present follow-up reports in twelve months time in respect of the new arrangements for information handling and if there are any further issues in relation to the Stockwell 2 report that require a specific response by the MPS to the Authority.

“As chair I will be seeking discussions with HMIC and the Home Office in order to develop a co-ordinated assessment as to whether any further action is needed to fulfil the IPCC recommendations.

“The MPA is the independent statutory body that oversees the work of the MPS and we recognise and fully support the vital part that they have to play in protecting the people of London and the UK from terrorism.

“The terrorist atrocities of July 2005 made unprecedented demands on the MPS and the fight against terrorism will present challenges to policing for many years to come, in London and across the country. The MPA will continue its dual role in holding the MPS to account and to fully support the men and women who work at all levels of the MPS as it meets these exceptional circumstances and responsibilities.”

Other items on the agenda include:

• MPS body armour; and
• GLA Group Community Safety Policy Statement.

The Authority will hear a question from Mr Bernard Gentry concerning the allocation of Safer Neighbourhood resources and area crime levels, specifically in Lambeth. Catherine Crawford, Chief Executive of the MPA, will give the Authority’s response at the meeting.

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/2007/070906

2. The IPCC Stockwell 2 report details the findings of their investigation into complaints brought by the de Menezes family, which concerned the way in which the MPA provided information to the public after the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes and did not counter unsubstantiated rumours in the media.

3. The MPA has issued a separate press release that sets out our responsibilities in regards to the discipline of senior officers within the MPS. www.mpa.gov.uk/news/press/2007/07-040.htm

4. Since July 2005 the MPA has been working with the MPS to radically improve the way the organisation communicates internally and externally, and in the context of operational policing. 

The following reports presented by the MPS to the Authority, and initiatives by the Authority, draw together the work completed to date.

Operation Kratos

The strategy for responding to the threat of suicide terrorism. www.mpa.gov.uk/news/press/2006/06-011.htm

MPA scrutiny of MPS media and communications

The Authority was concerned about the approach taken by the MPS to managing the press coverage of Forest Gate and conducted a short scrutiny of the Directorate of Public Affairs (DPA) to consider what lessons can be learnt from that experience. www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/cop/2007/070405/05.htm

MPS review of internal communications systems

This report outlines the progress made in relation to MPS procedures and resilience in a range of key areas that developed from the response to the unprecedented policing challenges in July 2005. It specifically updates on the role of MPS Management Board sitting as a Crisis Management Team, reassurance and community engagement, command resilience, support to Crisis Management and Investigative teams, the Operation Kratos Review Group and training. www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2006/060223/08.htm

MPA ‘Counter-Terrorism: The London Debate’

The MPA sought the views on terrorism and counter-terrorism of a diverse selection of over 1000 people who live and work in London.  www.mpa.gov.uk/news/press/2006/06-036.htm

5. Confidential anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 321

6. Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

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