Metropolitan Police Authority News

46/1024 August 2010  Met Forward is the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) three year strategic mission to guide the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in tackling the issues that matter most to Londoners: fighting crime and reducing criminality; increasing confidence in policing; and giving us better value for money. The MPA will regularly update Londoners about the progress of Met Forward. Kit Malthouse, MPA chair and Deputy Mayor for Policing, said: “The aim of Met Forward is to improve policing services across London to ensure everything we do will contribute to tackling crime and reducing criminality. Met Forward also supports our oversight and scrutiny functions of London’s police and ensures that key priorities are delivered. We are committed to keeping London and its communities informed about the delivery and benefits of Met Forward projects and key developments. “By keeping people informed we can demonstrate progress and help increase public confidence in the police and the work they do to protect London’s communities and bring criminals to justice.” To ensure Londoners are kept informed about progress the MPA will publish monthly progress bulletins. These, together with the complete Met Forward document and much more information about important projects, can be accessed on the MPA website at: www.mpa.gov.uk/publications/metforward The way the MPA communicates with Londoners about the progress of Met Forward is important. We are keen to hear from as many people as possible on how we can improve the delivery of Met Forward and how useful the information provided is. You can help us by taking part in a short survey at: www.mpa.gov.uk/publications/metforward/telluswhatyouthink Met Forward highlights for July 2010 include: London Crime Reduction Board There are many organisations, statutory and voluntary, involved in crime and community safety which can lead to confusion. The MPA has set out its intention to establish and lead a single London Crime Reduction Board to bring clarity and ensure delivery. Initial stakeholder consultation meetings have now been completed and a report has been produced and positively received by key stakeholders including London Councils, the MPS and the London Probation service. The Board will be chaired by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and its first meeting is due to take place in September. MPS Special constables  ‘Specials’ play a crucial role in the policing of our streets and strengthening the relationship between the police and the public. Met Forward supports the Mayor’s commitment to increasing the number of Specials. In June 2010, 3,125 Specials provided an additional 11,300 hours of visible patrolling every week. With a further 516 officers in training, and approximately 900 applications received each month, we are confident the number of warranted officers patrolling our streets will continue to increase steadily. Safer Neighbourhood TeamsSince their introduction six years ago Safer Neighbourhood Teams have been hugely beneficial at reducing crime while also increasing community confidence and satisfaction in policing. The Met Streets strand of Met Forward outlines the Authority’s intention to make sure that resources allocated to Safer Neighbourhood Teams are still being deployed effectively and that maximum impact is achieved from the investment made. We will be conducting a formal scrutiny focusing on the structure of Safer Neighbourhood Teams in the autumn to review the effectiveness of the current model. MPA Anti-Violence PanelMet Forward outlined the intention to increase the focus on reducing gang-related violence in London. The MPS has responded by developing an Anti-Violence Strategy, bringing together units across the MPS to address this issue. Race and Faith InquiryThe independent Race and Faith Inquiry Report, commissioned by the Mayor of London, was launched in July. This project sought to address concerns about several key issues, including recruitment, progression and retention of black and minority ethnic candidates through the ranks, and the extent to which there is visible leadership around race issues. Following extensive consultation throughout the course of the inquiry, the report outlines a number of recommendations for both the MPS and MPA.

45/1012 August 2010 The MPA notes the CPS decision to bring charges and can make no further comment at this time.  The Authority has consistently expressed serious concerns over this incident and called on the Commissioner to investigate thoroughly the circumstances of the arrest and the officers’ actions. At our request the Commissioner agreed that retired senior judge Sir Geoffrey Grigson should be appointed to add an independent voice to the MPS review of the incident and that should any new evidence arise during the review it should be acted on. This case has serious implications for policing in London. The allegations have damaged public confidence in the way police officers carry out their duties and Londoners have the right to expect that if found to have acted improperly, officers will be held to account.  Once the legal process is concluded we will seek to publish and debate the findings of the MPS review.

44/1026 July 2010 The Metropolitan Police Authority is asking Londoners to have their say and help identify the capital´s policing priorities for 2012/13. By completing a short online questionnaire Londoners can tell the MPA what are the most important issues for them and what they believe the police should be focusing on. The questionnaire asks: what are your top three priorities for policing in London? why do you choose these priorities? what should the MPS be doing to tackle these priorities? Kit Malthouse, Chairman of the MPA, said: "Public consultation plays an important part in setting the annual policing priorities for London and we want to encourage more and more Londoners to participate.  “This year MPA staff will be trying harder than ever over the summer months to enable communities to have their say, attending community events, Safer Neighbourhoods team’s surgeries, ‘have your say’ days and joining in with crime prevention buses to speak with people directly.  “We are also asking London’s business community to have their say in setting policing priorities with a specific questionnaire. “Participating in this annual consultation is a vital tool to help restore the vital link between our local communities and their police service. All organisations do best when they listen to the people they serve and the police is no different.”   The public questionnaire is available at: www.mpa.gov.uk/publications/policingplans/haveyoursay The business questionnaire is available at: www.mpa.gov.uk/publications/policingplans/haveyoursay-businesses Hardcopies: If you are unable to complete the online questionnaire please call 020 7202 0063 (or minicom 020 7202 0173), leaving your name and address and we will send you a paper copy of the questionnaire to complete and return to a freepost address. Assistance to complete the questionnaire: If you require a telephone questionnaire, please call 020 7202 0063 (or minicom 020 7202 0173), leave your name and telephone number and somebody will call you back. The closing date for completed questionnaires is 26 November 2010. Notes to Editors 1.      The current policing priorities can be found on the MPA website within the Policing London Business Plan at:www.mpa.gov.uk/downloads/publications/plans/policingplan2010-13.pdf 2.      The MPA’s policing and performance plans describe our arrangements for policing London over the year and gives details of our priorities and objectives, past performance and future performance targets, funding and use of resources and the work to support continuous improvement.

43/1021 July 2010 Please note the July meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority will now be held in The Chamber, not Committee Rooms 4 and 5 as previously stated, City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA at 10.00 a.m. on Thursday 22 July 2010. The meeting is open to members of the public and press, and everyone is welcome to attend. There is access for disabled people and induction loops are available. Notes to Editors 1. The full Authority committee papers are available on the MPA website at: www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2010/100722 2.  The Race and Faith Inquiry report is on the MPA website at: www.mpa.gov.uk/downloads/publications/race-faith-inquiry.pdf

42/1019 July 2010 The July meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority will be held in Committee Rooms 4 and 5, City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA at 10.00 a.m. on Thursday 22 July 2010. The meeting is open to members of the public and press, and everyone is welcome to attend. There is access for disabled people and induction loops are available. Reshard Auladin, deputy chair of the MPA, will give an oral update on any key issues or events since the last Authority meeting. Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson will present a report on policing performance and respond to questions from Authority members. Members will discuss the Race and Faith Inquiry report, which was presented to the Mayor of London on 7 July, and propose how to take forward recommendations from the report. A petition will be presented to the Authority by Ken Livingstone calling for the MPA and the Mayor to reconsider decisions about police numbers. A response to the petition will be provided at the meeting. Notes to Editors 1. The full Authority committee papers are available on the MPA website at: www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2010/100722 2.  The Race and Faith Inquiry report is on the MPA website at: www.mpa.gov.uk/downloads/publications/race-faith-inquiry.pdf

41/1013 July 2010 A meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority Finance and Resources Committee will be held in Meeting Room 1, 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY on Thursday 15 July 2010 at 2.00pm. Members of the committee will discuss, amongst other items: Finance matters Revenue budget monitoring 2009/10 - period 2 First review of the capital programme 2010/11 Cost implications of policing public order events 2009/10 Mayor’s budget guidance – shared services Estate matters Proposals for the development of a borough based custody centre for Croydon BOCU Notes to editors The committee papers are available on the MPA website at:  www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/finres/2010/100715

40/106 July 2010 A meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority Communities, Equalities and People Committee will be held in Meeting Room 1,10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY on Thursday 8 July at 12.00pm. Amongst other items, the Committee will discuss: Met Volunteer Programme Safeguarding adults - overview and update report Detective capacity and capability Annual report of the Communities, Equalities and People Committee Committee papers for this meeting are available on the website at: www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/cep/2010/100708

39/101 July 2010 The Metropolitan Police Authority Civil Liberties Panel held an open meeting at City Hall on Thursday 1 July to hear what individuals and campaigning organisations think about DNA in policing and the use of National DNA Database (NDNAD). The meeting enabled participants, as well as those who could not attend but submitted written evidence, to voice their concerns about the current and future use of DNA. Victoria Borwick, chair of the panel, said: “The most important part of our review is to hear Londoners’ views. It is vital we hear directly from people about their personal experiences and concerns regarding this key civil liberties issue. We need to engage as widely as possible with individuals and groups who want to contribute to our review. “This meeting will form an essential part of our evidence gathering about how the Met’s DNA collection and retention impacts on London’s communities. We particularly welcomed firsthand accounts of those who have had their DNA taken by police and individuals who have requested their DNA be removed from the database. In conclusion, Victoria Borwick said: “The first hand experiences we heard will help us understand the deep concerns that some members of the public have around the use of DNA  and this evidence will inform our final report. We expect to present our report at the end of the year.” The Civil Liberties Panel is eager to hear from as many people as possible and comments can be sent to dna@mpa.gov.uk, or write to: Civil Liberties Panel, MPA, 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0NY Please send your comments by 31st August 2010. Major themes which emerged during the meeting included: DNA seems to have become an end in itself, a process to be completed irrespective of proportionalitythere should be more transparency specifically  about how the DNA database is managed  there is no formalised means by which innocent people can get their records removed from the DNA databaseit can be a useful tool for detecting serious crimes – rape case prosecutions rely on DNA sampling. But there is a need for checks and balances to ensure it is used appropriatelyDNA sampling has undermined community trust in the police – on the one hand they are trying to reach out and engage with young people while with the other they are stigmatizing the same groups by taking DNA during interactions organisations are keeping separate databases and hiding behind FOI exemptions in order not to release more informationhaving DNA taken is perceived as invasive and a violation of the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty, compounded by the retention of the DNA sample and the difficulty of trying to get it removed from databasesretaining DNA samples of convicted criminals is completely different to keeping samples of innocent people who have not committed a crime Notes to editors 1. For more information about the Civil Liberties Panel please seewww.mpa.gov.uk/clpVictoria Borwick is available for interview 2. The open meeting was recorded and the webcast is available at: www.mpa.gov.uk/clp/2010/100701/webcast-archive/ 3. The Civil Liberties Panel was introduced in Met Forward, the MPA´s mission statement for London’s police, as a means of securing public confidence in policing tactics in the capital and ensuring the Met maintains public trust: ‘Our duty, as London’s police authority, is to ensure the Met restores and maintains public trust. In order to support this, we will establish a Civil Liberties Panel of Authority members that will begin its work with a formal civil liberties scrutiny of the Met’s public order policing of violent disorder. Once the initial scrutiny is complete, the panel will continue both to monitor the situation and hear specific concerns from the public and human rights organisations.’

38/1030 June 2010 A joint meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority Finance and Resources and Strategic and Operational Policing Committees will be held in Meeting Room 1, 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY at 1.30 pm on Thursday 1 July 2010. It will be followed immediately by the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee. At the joint meeting members will discuss: Policing London Business PlanThis report details progress to date on the development of corporate objectives and identification of key activities for 2011/14, and sets out the approach and timeline for delivering the 2011/14 Policing London Business Plan in line with the 2011/12 Mayor’s budget guidance. Budget guidanceMembers note the mayor’s budget guidance for the 2011/12 budget planning round, and the implications for the MPA budget. Principally driven by public expenditure restraints, the Mayor’s Budget guidance has been issued earlier than normal, and the MPA/MPS base budget proposals for the three year period 2011-14 needs to be submitted to the Mayor by 30 September 2010, two months earlier than normal. Unlike previous years there will be no interim budget submission. MPS strategy reportThe report provides insights on the development of the MPS Corporate Strategy - the objectives, high-level activities and measures that provide the foundation for the statutory policing plan, the 2011/14 Policing London Business Plan. The report also describes how delivery of the strategy will be monitored and reviewed. At the Strategic and Operational Committee members will discuss: Safer Neighbourhoods scoping studyMPA report summarizing the findings of an initial scoping study undertaken to determine issues for a future MPA Safer Neighbourhoods scrutiny, as required by the MPA’s strategic work plan, Met Forward. Delivery plan for the MPS Anti-Violence BoardThis report summarizes the role, terms of reference and emerging delivery plan for the MPS Anti-Violence Board (AVB). It outlines the MPS Anti-Violence Strategy and provides comment upon issues identified previously by the Authority relating to the approach to violence reduction in London. It further outlines the intended development of the approach, including the formation of a London Strategic Violence Board. Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) presentation from Deborah Glass, Deputy Chair IPCCThis presentation will update the committee on IPCC related matters. Professional standards indicatorsThis report provides an update on current performance from the professional standards performance indicators, including: information on trends for complaints and resolutions; officers attracting a high number of complaints; and details of steps taken to redress any emerging issues. Details of the preparation for the introduction of the revised IPCC statutory guidance are also provided. Update on the new IPCC statutory guidanceThe MPA will deliver a report outlining its duties under the new guidance. Committee papers for this meeting are available on the website at:www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/sop/2010/100701-jointandwww.mpa.gov.uk/committees/sop/2010/100701