MPA Statement - IPCC decision not to discipline DAC Cressida Dick

David Lenton on 21 December 2007 at 20:29

Tags: cressida, dick, discipline, ipcc, statement,

70/07
21 December 2007

The MPA welcomes the IPCC decision that no disciplinary action be taken against DAC Cressida Dick, which accords with the MPA's recommendation. 

The IPCC decision also reflects the rider, requested by the jury in the Health and Safety trial, which vindicated DAC Dick with their unequivocal statement that no personal culpability be attached to her.

In its submission to the IPCC the Authority emphasised that they considered throughout the operation she acted and gave commands with due professional skill, care and responsibility. For these reasons the Authority decided that no disciplinary proceedings should be brought against her.

Notes to editors
Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

Cost of policing major events should be borne by organisers, not Londoners, says police watchdog

David Lenton on 20 December 2007 at 20:28

Tags: commercial event, event, event policing, funding, mps, pay, policing, policing events,

69/07
20 December 2007

Organisers of major commercial events in London should pay the full cost of policing them.

The Metropolitan Police Authority said today that the bill for policing money-making events, including football matches, pop concerts and Olympic 2012 “warm-up” events other than community events should be met by the organisers, not London taxpayers.

From 1 October 2005 – 30 September 2006 1,300 commercial events took place in the capital. The cost of policing these events is estimated at more than £9.2m, but the Metropolitan Police recovered only £3.9m.

The most costly commercial events to police are football matches. During the same period there were 346 football matches played in London and the cost for policing them was £6.6m. The Met sought payment for 257 of these but because legally they can only charge for officers inside the grounds not outside, where most policing takes place, it was able to recoup only £2.1m.

By contrast, the cost of policing 470 film premieres were all charged at the full rate. No charges were levied for 230 other events, partly due to the MPA’s policy of not requiring police to charge for attending charity or community events.

Len Duvall, MPA Chair, said:

“It is the responsibility of organisers of major commercial events to provide the requisite number of stewards to oversee the safety and security of the people attending.

“However, where it is necessary for us to provide police officers in large numbers as well, the organisers should bear fully the policing costs.

“Unfortunately, there is too much leeway for organisers to avoid paying all or even part of the costs and the law needs to be tightened up.

“Londoners should not be paying for the policing of large, money-making events which benefit private organisations but not the wider community. Indeed, Londoners lose out twice over as their local police officers are withdrawn from their regular community service to police profit-making events. This is simply unfair and must be changed.

“Celebrations of local, London-wide or national significance, such as major sporting achievements or New Year’s Eve, will be treated on a case-by-case basis, but it is not our intention to prevent major celebratory events, nor to seek cost recovery for charitable or community events. We simply want a fair deal for Londoners.”

The MPA will ensure organisers of commercial events in London are fully aware that they will be expected to pay the cost of the agreed policing of their events, and move towards full cost recovery of all commercial events held in stadiums by April 2009. Organisers and promoters of large commercial events that take place in the streets will be told that they will have to meet the full costs.

The MPA will also lobby the Government to enact legislation to give a legal basis for charging, and discuss with London Councils the use of the legislative framework that exists for London to create such a legal basis.

Notes to editors
Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

Police pay settlement - Metropolitan Police Authority to write to Home Secretary

David Lenton on 20 December 2007 at 20:27

Tags: pay, settlement,

68/07
20 December 2007

At the Metropolitan Police Authority meeting held on 20 December 2007, it was unanimously agreed that the Metropolitan Police Authority Chair Len Duvall should write to the Home Secretary setting out the Authority’s concern about the government’s refusal to backdate the pay settlement for police officers in England and Wales.

Len Duvall said:

“There are very important issues to be resolved in this situation. The government has failed to recognise that the police are a unique group of public servants who do not enjoy the same employment rights as other public employees – they do not have the right to take industrial action. This situation has given rise to needless antagonism and it is not a precedent that we want to see established. We must support police officers so they can carry out their duties fully and with fair remuneration.

“The government has not acted fairly regarding arbitration for this annual pay award, which has led to an unacceptable relationship between employer and employee. A fair formulation of pay for police officers must be agreed between all parties.

“Hopefully both sides will come together to arrive at a proper process where a fair pay settlement can be achieved.”

Responding specifically to a press statement issued by the Metropolitan Police Federation, Len Duvall deplored the stance taken in relation to the MPA. He said:

“The MPA made clear its position regarding the current pay settlement for police officers when I made a public statement at a meeting of the Greater London Authority on 7 November 2007.

“Rachel Whittaker, lead MPA member for Human Resources and Remuneration, has been instrumental in working on the Police Negotiating Board to achieve a fair pay settlement for police officers. She commented that whilst not backdating the settlement to 1st September saved money in the short term, the government justification is not substantiated as it has no effect on long-term inflation.

“Our sustained and practical support for police officers has been recognised by the National Federation of Police Officers, but unfortunately appears to have been overlooked by the Met Police Federation.”

Notes to editors

1. Len Duvall, chair of the MPA, raised the issue of the forthcoming police pay settlement during his opening remarks at the recent London Assembly meeting (7 November 2007) where he and the Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, appeared.

Mr Duvall made it quite clear that the police do an exceptional and demanding job on behalf of the public. He also stated that the pay negotiation mechanism needed to recognise these facts and that police officers deserved a just settlement. He acknowledged the strong feelings amongst rank and file officers who want their dedication and hard work to be recognised and rewarded.

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

Metropolitan Police Authority - December meeting

David Lenton on 18 December 2007 at 20:25

Tags: committee meeting,

67/07
18 December 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 20 December 2007 at 10.00 a.m.

Members of the Authority will consider a review of the MPA policy on charging for events. Whilst the current policy is fit for purpose and is being used efficiently, the review has identified areas where it could be even more effective in dealing with future challenges.

Len Duvall, chair of the MPA, said:

“London is a vibrant and immensely busy capital city and the MPA and MPS have a statutory duty to police all marches, demonstrations, ceremonial and security events held here. We also acknowledge that some capital city events are equally important to London’s communities.

“Commercial events are very different. When officers are deployed on this type of event they cannot be serving their communities and tackling crime on the streets. We need to ensure that commercial event organisers in London are fully aware that they will be expected to meet the full cost of policing in line with the MPA published Special Services Agreement.

“The MPS constantly reviews how it deals with events in order to reduce aid commitment whilst maintaining an effective and safe policing response. Despite this, resources used in policing events are still significant and in the run up to the Olympics the number of events is likely to increase.

“The most costly commercial events to police are football matches. During the period subject to this review ((October 2005 – September 2006) there were 346 football matches played in London with a total policing cost of £6.6million. Although the MPS sought payment for 257 of these matches, only £2.1 million was recouped as current policy states that MPS can only be recompensed if officers are deployed inside the grounds. Therefore the MPS subsidised football to the tune of £4.5 million. Whilst the financial commitment of the football authorities to the ‘Kickz’ community based youth diversion projects and its inherent benefits are fully acknowledged, it is clear that policing football matches is a financial burden.”

Len Duvall concluded:

“Borough and event commanders must continue to take every opportunity to recoup policing costs from the organisers of commercial events by working closely with them and making use of partnerships with Local Authorities where appropriate.

“The MPA will strive towards full cost recovery by April 2009 and it is hoped this phased approach will allow event organisers to plan and budget accordingly. We must ensure that organisers of commercial events meet the full cost of policing them in line with the MPA Special Services Agreement. Officers should not be used to resource commercial events to the detriment of our communities.”

Other items on the agenda include:

• Road fatalities and seriously injured;
• Provisional grant settlement 2008/09 – 2010/11;
• Public Order Review update; and
• Operation Recover.

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. Although not on the agenda for the December Full Authority, the current pay settlement for police officers in England and Wales will be raised by the Chair of the MPA, Len Duvall

2. The committee papers for this Authority meeting can be found at:
www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2007/071220/default.htm

3. The Co-ordination and Policing committee meeting held on July 19 2004 the MPA agreed a policy on charging for commercial events. The policy was introduced as the Authority was concerned about costs of policing of events and the consequential impact on other policing priorities due to abstraction of resources. The policy can be found at
www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/cop/2004/040719/05.htm

4. Details of the Special Services Agreement can be found at
www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/f/2002/020711/15.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

Allegations against AC Andy Hayman - IPCC decision on Stockwell 2

David Lenton on 12 December 2007 at 13:45

Tags: hayman, ipcc, stockwell 2,

66/07
12 December 2007

The Metropolitan Police Authority has today been notified by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) of its decision to accept the MPA's proposal that AC Hayman should receive advice from the Commissioner and the chair of the Authority's Professional Standards Committee about the standard of his future conduct.

This is in regard to the allegations made in the IPCC's Stockwell 2 report and their recommendation that the MPA should consider disciplinary action.

Notes to editors

Allegations made in the IPCC Stockwell 2 report - AC Andy Hayman

In the Stockwell 2 Report published in August 2007 the IPCC invited the MPA to consider whether AC Hayman should be charged with misconduct. The MPA submitted a memorandum to the IPCC on 6 November 2007 setting out the Authority's recommendation that no disciplinary proceedings should be brought against AC Hayman. The MPA accepted that there did appear to be some mismatch between what AC Hayman said and/or agreed during the period of about 2¼ hours from about 16:30hrs to about 18:45hrs. The Authority considered that it was more realistic to suppose that this was caused by carelessness amounting to a lack of conscientiousness and diligence rather than by deliberate dishonesty or lack of integrity on his part.

The MPA is satisfied that, even if AC Hayman were found by a disciplinary tribunal to have failed to meet the appropriate standard under Code 5, the conduct would not justify the imposition of any sanction under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2004. The MPA therefore concluded that there should not be disciplinary proceedings and that the matter should be dealt with by the Commissioner and the Chair of the MPA Professional Standards Committee giving AC Hayman advice on the standard of his future conduct.

The final decision whether disciplinary proceedings should be brought against AC Hayman rested with the IPCC.

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

MPA appoints new Deputy Assistant Commissioner (National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations) Metropolitan Police Services

David Lenton on 10 December 2007 at 10:13

Tags: deputy assistant commissioner, john mcdowall, national co-ordinator of terrorist investigations, ncti,

65/07
10 December 2007

The Metropolitan Police Authority today appointed commander John McDowall to become the Metropolitan Police Service's new Deputy Assistant Commissioner with specific duties as National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations (NCTI).

Commander McDowall, currently deputy to the National Coordinator of Terrorist Investigations, the post to which he is now appointed, will co-ordinate terrorist investigations across the United Kingdom. He will also lead the MPS's Counter Terrorism Command (CTC), SO15.

The interviews were conducted by a panel of five MPA members, with Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, acting as police adviser. Catherine Crawford, MPA Chief Executive, was also in attendance.

MPA Chair Len Duvall, who led the interview panel, said:

"This is one of the highest profile and most challenging roles in policing today and we were seeking an officer with significant experience combined with an innovative approach, people and communications skills, as well as a genuine commitment to playing a lead role in providing the UK with an effective counter terrorism command.

"The panel was impressed by the calibre of all the candidates interviewed. However, John McDowall impressed us with his display of operational leadership and the knowledge he brings to this vital position to identify and prevent terrorist, extremist or subversive activities, and communicate what we are doing effectively to our many diverse communities."

MPS Commissioner Sir Ian Blair described the role as "hugely challenging":

"The enduring threat from international terrorism makes this one of the most demanding posts in UK policing and I'm confident the police authority has chosen the right individual for this role. Londoners can be reassured that as the current Counter Terrorism Commander John McDowall has the hands-on knowledge and experience necessary to meet the complex demands of managing major terrorist investigations in the capital."

John McDowall - biography

John McDowall was born in Epsom, Surrey, in 1957. He joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1980, and first joined the Criminal Investigation Department as a Detective Constable in 1984.

His service has included a variety of locations in uniform and plain-clothes, including Twickenham; Bow Street; West End Central; Brixton; Fulham; Carter Street (later Walworth); 4 Area Crime OCU, and SO11.

In 1996, he was appointed to lead the SE Area Crime Squad, where he worked until 1997 when he became Staff Officer to the Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations. In 1998, he was promoted to the role of OCU commander SO10/11, the Criminal Intelligence Branch.

He is a graduate of the Universities of Manchester and London, as well as the 2002 Strategic Command Course, where he also completed the Cambridge Diploma in Criminology. He was appointed Commander in the Metropolitan Police Service in November 2002, and had responsibility for Covert Policing.

He lives with his family in West London. In his spare time he enjoys travel, and sport of as many kinds as his age allows. He skis as often as he can, and supports an MPS charity established to help disabled police officers enjoy the sport. He is also a Vice-Patron of the National Missing Persons Helpline.

Commander McDowall was appointed to the post of Deputy to the National Coordinator of Terrorist Investigations in January 2005. Since that time he has led investigations in this most challenging arena of police.

Notes to editors

1. Deputy Assistant Commissioner - National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations: job description.
   
   The role is under development and part of the new postholder's responsibilities will be to move forward the national arrangements. He will be a Deputy Assistant Commissioner within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), and may be directed or required by the Commissioner to undertake a different role or other duties at some point during his service.
2. The appointment to Deputy Assistant Commissioner is for a five year fixed term period at an annual starting salary of £125,667 (pay award pending) plus benefits.
3. The closing date for receipt of applications was Friday 2 November. Shortlisting took place on 16 November 2007, with an assessment process on 19 and 20 November for the shortlisted candidates. Interviews were held on 10 December 2007.

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

MPA Stockwell scrutiny - Terms of reference agreed

David Lenton on 6 December 2007 at 10:14

Tags: stockwell,

64/07 6 December 2007

The Metropolitan Police Authority today agreed the terms of reference for its scrutiny into how the Metropolitan Police and it responded to the Independent Police Complaints Commission's Stockwell reports 1, 1b and 2.

The three reports were written following the fatal shooting by police of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Underground station on 22 July 2005.

MPA Chair Len Duvall will lead the scrutiny, which will begin its work in January and present its findings to a full meeting of the Authority in February.

Mr Duvall said:

"Over the past two years there has been much said about the way in which the Met and others acted following the tragic death of Jean Charles. The IPCC reports looked at the police operation around the shooting itself, and how the Met corporately and police officers individually responded afterwards.

"We announced in September our intention to review the way in which the Met has responded to the IPCC's recommendations and what changes and improvements have been implemented or are still needed to learn lessons.

"The Authority as the oversight body for the Met also wants to explain to Londoners how the organisation has moved on since July 2005. We are now in a very different place organisationally and operationally than we were back then. But our job is to ensure new practices are adopted, procedures have changed and that everyone clearly understands what this means for future operations.

"We will make recommendations as we consider necessary to the MPA, the MPS and other agencies, and we will require regular updates on progress."

As well as looking at how the MPS and the MPA have responded to the IPCC Stockwell reports, it will also examine:

• The extent to which the recommendations made by the IPCC have been accepted and implemented;
• Whether all the lessons have been learnt from the fatal shooting and the subsequent handling of information, and whether they have been incorporated into procedures, practices and command structures by the MPS and other agencies;
• What changes, if any, are needed in relation to the MPA's practices for oversight of major critical incidents and their aftermath, including the MPA's role in public information and communications; and
• What further action is needed, by the MPS, the MPA or other agencies to secure sustainable improvements in policy and practice.

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

London's communities to be consulted over new strategy to modernise police facilities

David Lenton on 30 November 2007 at 12:49

Tags: estate, mpa, mps,

63/07
30 November 2007

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) are undertaking a major improvement programme for the Metropolitan Police estate.

An Asset Management Plan (AMP) for each borough will outline the local strategy to improve facilities, including the provision of front counters, patrol bases, custody centres, Safer Neighbourhoods team bases, and office accommodation, as well as ensuring the buildings are fully accessible in line with legislation. A significant feature of the AMPs, which aim to explain the changes and how they will directly benefit policing, will be a period of local consultation, actively seeking feedback form the community.

Aneeta Prem, lead member for estates issues for the Metropolitan Police Authority, said:

"Effective policing cannot be delivered without the right property to operate

from. The MPA places great value on modernising the estate to provide the best possible facilities that will enable our police service to respond to the urgent needs of Londoners.

"The Authority is crucially aware of the importance communities attach to local police facilities and the need to communicate prospective changes. The Asset Management Plans (AMP) that will be rolled out in every borough in the coming months are specifically intended as consultation tools and will ask Londoners specific questions about facilities in their area and what can be done to improve these.

"Each borough AMP outlines the key themes which we want stakeholders and the local community to express their views on. This period of consultation will last three months following publication of the AMP, the process to be led by the borough commander. Once the community's views have been collected, the Met will then carefully consider the comments to help inform a revised version of the document and implement change to improve policing in the borough.

"It is the first time this has been done in London and is an exciting opportunity for Londoners to help us make the police service better. We firmly believe we need to engage with Londoners to explain the enormous benefits of the changes we propose and win their support for a better, more effective police service for everyone across the entire capital."

Significant improvements to the estate have been made since the MPA published 'Building Towards The Safest City' in 2003 setting out the need for modernisation. However, many buildings pre-date 1940, are not suitable for modern working practices, are expensive to run and inefficient. Police numbers have also grown substantially in recent years, which together with the roll out of the Safer Neighbourhoods initiative across each of the 32 boroughs, has placed extra demands on space and facilities.

The estate must adapt to meet these and other emerging challenges to ensure it is fit for use and provides the best possible environment for police officers and staff to respond to Londoners' needs.

The Property for Policing Programme sets out to deliver more effective policing by:

• Ensuring the public has accessible and friendly police facilities in the heart of local communities, closer to crime hotspots and compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act. More Safer Neighbourhoods' team bases will open within local communities, bringing the police closer to the public.
• Providing a single Custody Centre in most boroughs. This will create 30 to 40 custody cells in one place, with all the appropriate facilities required on one site. This will provide safe and modern facilities for employees and detainees and free up officers' time for front-line duties.
• Building new Patrol Bases in easily accessible locations, where we can. This will speed up response times and enable officers to spend more time patrolling the streets.
• Creating more space to accommodate growing numbers of officers and staff within the MPS. This will involve refurbishing some facilities, relocating or replacing others and opening new accommodation.
• Providing modern working conditions for our officers and staff and so increasing their productivity.

Notes to Editors

• Borough Asset Management Plans are available as they are completed for publication on the MPA website:
  www.mpa.gov.uk/issues/estate/default.htm 
• They are also available under each individual borough's webpage on the MPS website:
  www.met.police.uk/  [borough name]
   

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office