The MPA's community engagement arrangements at the borough level

ps/06/05
6 December 2005
MPA briefing paper

Author: Tim Rees, Head of Community Engagement, MPA

This briefing paper has been prepared to inform members and staff. It is not a committee report and no decisions are required.

Summary

In the context of one of the five Strategic Goals of the MPA which is to “transform community engagement to help Londoners secure more responsive policing at a local level”, the purpose of this report is to provide members and staff with an update on progress to date.

Background

The need to improve current arrangements is necessary because the nature of community police engagement has changed dramatically since the establishment of Community Police Consultative Groups (CPCGs) in the early 1980s. These changes include:

• The establishment of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs);
• The advent of the Metropolitan Police Authority and its specific duties to consult with Londoners;
• The roll – out of the Safer Neighbourhood Policing initiative and the associated ward based community panels;
• The movement towards citizen focussed policing in London in the context of the national programme
• Redefining the nature of the relationship between the police and the community from consultation to engagement;
• The intentions of government as reflected in the White Paper “Building Communities, Beating Crime”.

The White Paper is clear on the need for change.

In terms of delivery at the local level the White Paper describes the governments intention to impose a joint duty:

“On the police and local authorities in each CDRP area to ensure they have sufficient arrangements in place to deliver a range of engagement opportunities for local neighbourhoods and to respond to concerns that are raised as a result”

The White Paper also proposes to

“Extend the responsibility on police authorities to secure the implementation of a strategy to engage the community at all levels – including neighbourhoods – within the police area”

In addition, the government intends to place a duty on police authorities to:

“Oversee the relationship between CDRPs and neighbourhood bodies and ensure the implementation of citizen involvement – making sure that these arrangements are not overly bureaucratic”.

MPA response

The Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, Len Duvall met with members of the London CPCG Chairs Forum on 19th January 2005 and subsequently wrote to the Chair of the Forum setting out the MPAs views, taking account of the consequences of the White Paper. He outlined the MPA’s vision in terms of strengthening community engagement as an integral part of local partnership activity with Groups driving local plans and priorities and holding all partners – not just the police – to account, while at the same time supporting and protecting the integrity and independence of the CPCGs as they adapt to a new relationship with borough partners.

Since that time officers of the MPA have been undertaking an extensive review and process of consultation with the CPCGs themselves, with the MPS, ALG, GLA, GOL and the Community Safety Managers of local authorities in pursuit of these objectives. A report was submitted to the Community Engagement Committee at its meeting of 16th June 2005 presenting the results of this consultation and offering options for future arrangements.

The Committee agreed to share responsibility for funding decisions for local community engagement with the Borough Commander and local CDRP partners beginning the fiscal year 2006 – 07.

In 2006-7 MPA officers will continue to have responsibility for administering the grant making process. The statutory and community representatives from each borough will be invited to meet each other before Christmas 05 and to fill in a very simple MPA form stating an outline of their position and whether a consensus exists regarding the future activities of the community engagement group.

Where a consensus exists and is within the MPA’s policy and budget the local partners will be asked to fill in a full application form in January 2006 and send it to the MPA. The MPA officers would then put forward the locally agreed funding recommendations to the Community Engagement Committee or its successor for final approval.

Where there is not local agreement, the Community Engagement Unit will seek to broker an agreement between the local parties and report the outcome to the Community Engagement Committee for approval.

Strengthening Local Partnerships

This approach to funding for 2006/7 balances the interest of the MPA, the Borough Commanders and the CDRPS, giving local statutory partners a formal say in the decision making for the first time. Such devolution and cooperative power sharing responsibility for the funding of local community engagement will also encourage the CDRPs and other local partners to enhance their capacity and willingness to accept local responsibility for engagement and carry it out in a manner that is collaborative, effective and supportive of a strong and independent voice for the communities. At the same time it will maintain the intent of the White Paper that “police authorities will be more closely connected with and visible to their local community so that the line of accountability is clear”. This will call for a continuing degree of support by the MPA to the partnerships to assist them in developing and expanding their community engagement roles.

The MPA will also be firm advocates on behalf of community engagement groups seeking a place at the local partnership table.

Protecting the independence and integrity of community groups

Borough level engagement involves building a framework in which the all of the local agencies contributing to safer communities can present themselves and be accountable to the community – not just the Borough Commander but the CDRP and its constituent partners as well. In their turn, local engagement structures must give the community the ability and confidence to express criticism of policy, practice and performance by all or any of the partner agencies. The MPA will have a key role in ensuring that local groups retain their independence and their ability to participate with and influence the performance of local partners without compromise or threat.

Setting standards

While recognising that “one size does not fit all”, the MPA will continue to provide leadership in setting down the overall framework, principles and standards for effective community engagement.

The MPAs responsibility for the governance of community engagement through the establishment of such a strategic framework, developing performance indicators and promoting best practice can only reinforce and strengthen the MPAs ability and effectiveness in scrutinising performance.

Promoting best practice

The MPA will support innovative work and test out different models of engagement. For example, Officers of the Community Engagement Unit have completed over two years of rigorous funding rounds which have stimulated far greater clarity and purpose of local community engagement activity. A number of groups have redirected and refocused their activities and a number have undertaken major structural reorganisation to incorporate the activities of Safer Neighbourhoods and to more directly participate in the CDRP Process.

In addition, the MPA has initiated two exciting and promising Community Safety Board pilots in Islington and Hammersmith and Fulham; is carrying out an independent evaluation of recently developed arrangements in Greenwich, and is currently consulting locally on future arrangements in Brent.

There is evidence both of an emerging desire by many CPCGs to embrace change and reform, which is already beginning to translate itself into practical action on the ground. The results of some of this work will be showcased at a special MPA sponsored conference on 22nd November 2005, which will be published and widely disseminated.

Community Capacity Building

The MPA will in addition continue its activities to work with local groups and local partnerships to provide training, development and capacity building to enhance the effectiveness of community engagement at all levels.

CPCGs currently involve regular meetings of in excess of 1,000 active volunteers across London representing many thousands of voluntary groups and associations. The MPA will continue to recognise, encourage and support this level of commitment on the part of Londoners to provide an effective civilian oversight over its police.

In summary, considerable progress has already been made in “transforming community engagement to help Londoners secure more responsive policing at a local level”. Developmental work will continue with partners and stakeholders groups to strengthen working partnerships at the local level. The shape and pace of the change programme will also be influenced by the outcome of the Government’s Review of the Partnership Provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act as well as the forthcoming legislation on Police Reform.

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