Operational note - Metropolitan Police Authority October meeting

Celia Prentice on 30 September 2008 at 16:34

Tags: 2008, chamber, city hall, full authority, meeting, mpa, news, operational note, press release, press releases, the chamber,

50/08
30 September 2008

Please note this meeting will be held in the Chamber, City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA on Monday 6 October 2008 at 10.00 a.m.

This is Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s first meeting as Chairman of the MPA. He will outline his vision for the Authority’s new term of office. This will be followed by an oral report from the Vice Chairman, Kit Malthouse.

The Commissioner will report on policing performance and other issues and will respond to questions from Authority members.

This meeting is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend. There is access for disabled people and induction loops are available.

The full agenda can be found at:

http://www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2008/081006/default.htm

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

MPA Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board: Young Londoners demand answers to tackle youth crime

Celia Prentice on 30 September 2008 at 16:30

Tags: 2008, crime, eodb, london, mpa, mps, news, press release, press releases, stop and search, violent crime, youth,

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26 September 2008

Young Londoners explained their fears about violent crime to Met officers at the MPA’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board (EODB) on 25 September 2008.

Kirsten Hearn, chair of the EODB, said:

“I welcome and thank the young people from the North East London College, Hillingdon Youth Service and the MPS Corporate Advisory Group who have come here to tell us their fears and concerns about youth crime in London. Knife related crimes are the Met’s top priority and I also thank DAC Alf Hitchcock, who leads on this issue, for taking part in our debate. Only by working together can young people and police find solutions to the terrible violence that is blighting our communities.”

The young people’s concerns were wide ranging and included being afraid to go out at night, worries about disproportionality in the use of stop and search and the effectiveness of search arches.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alf Hitchcock explained how Operation Blunt 2 is being used to tackle youth violence in London, and how other police operations are working together to ensure the most effective use of resources. For example, Operation Tyrol looks at safety on the buses, with an increase in the number of Safer Transport teams and transport ‘hub’ teams. Officers are now working on integrating this operation into Neighbourhood policing.

Several young people stressed the need for a broader approach to divert young people from crime and called for more programmes such as Kickz, more sports facilities and citizenship courses. Police agreed that ways must be found to tackle such issues as peer pressure, while providing more diversionary projects and ensuring employment opportunities are available.

Cindy Butts, deputy chair of the MPA, said:

“The Met are doing some strong work to support young people that are trying to leave serious violence and gang life behind. The five boroughs gangs project and ‘Pathways’, part of Operation Alliance, are excellent examples of this approach.”

DAC Alf Hitchcock assured young men in the debate that stop and search is scrutinised by community monitoring groups set up by the MPA, which give local people the opportunity to discuss with officers how it is being used in their areas and make sure it is being used fairly. The MPA has produced a DVD on stop and search to be used as a teaching tool for both police officers and communities alike.

Screening arches have been use extensively across the capital, primarily as a deterrent to stop people carrying knives, but as one participant added they only make people feel safer when police explain clearly how they are going to be used.

As well as operational policing on the streets and in neighbourhoods, police are in regular contact with their communities, meeting with faith groups, holding ’street’ briefings in communities and visiting youth clubs. Safer School Officers have become central to this issue and are setting up youth panels in every school.

The Met has also been working closely with its partners, including the Mayor, the GLA, the London Youth crime prevention board and the London community safety partnership, to ensure the operational tactics used by the police are supported by youth reassurance and engagement.

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

Metropolitan Police Authority: Senior Metropolitan Police Officer suspended

Celia Prentice on 18 September 2008 at 19:38

Tags: 2008, ali desai, commander ali desai, commander desai, desai, misconduct, mps, news, press release, press releases, suspension,

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18 September 2008

The Metropolitan Police Authority Professional Standards Sub-committee reconvened on Thursday 18 September following the meeting held on Thursday 11 September 2008.

The committee considered allegations concerning Commander Dizaei and after lengthy and careful deliberations unanimously decided to suspend the Commander.

Suspension is not a disciplinary sanction and it is emphasised that suspension should not be taken as a presumption of guilt.

This has been approved by the IPCC in accordance with police regulations.

Commander Dizaei has been informed of this decision.

It is the Authority’s responsibility to take the decision to suspend ACPO officers. The MPA has a statutory duty to investigate all allegations of misconduct and takes this responsibility very seriously. The Authority's Professional Standards Cases Sub-committee considers all cases in full accordance with the Police Conduct Regulations 2004.

It is not our practice to release details about ongoing investigations.

Notes to editors

The Professional Standards Sub-committee comprised of Reshard Auladin (Chair), Cindy Butts (MPA Deputy Chair), James Cleverly and Richard Sumray.

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

MPA: Alleged misconduct by senior MPS officer

Celia Prentice on 12 September 2008 at 16:03

 47/08
12 September 2008

The Metropolitan Police Authority is currently investigating Commander Ali Dizaei for a matter of alleged misconduct. A Deputy Chief Constable from another force has been appointed as Investigating Officer.

The MPA has a statutory duty to investigate all allegations of misconduct and takes this responsibility very seriously. The Authority's Professional Standards Cases Sub-committee considers all cases in full accordance with the Police Conduct Regulations 2004.

It is not our practice to release details about ongoing investigations.

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

MPA: Alleged misconduct by senior MPS officer

Celia Prentice on 9 September 2008 at 14:03

Tags: 2008, assistant commissioner, Ghaffur, misconduct, mps, news, press release, press releases, Tarique, Tarique Ghaffur,

46/08
9 September 2008

An extraordinary meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority’s Professional Standards Cases Sub-committee was held on Monday 8 September 2008 to consider allegations of misconduct brought against Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur.

Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stevenson asked the MPA (the organisation responsible for the appointment and discipline of senior MPS officers) to consider whether there had been any misconduct by AC Ghaffur following the public press conference he held on 28 August.

The Sub-committee concluded that there were potential grounds for misconduct and these have been recorded as a conduct matter. In consultation with HMIC, the Sub-committee will appoint an Investigating Officer of Chief Constable rank.

The Sub-committee further considered if there were any grounds for suspension of AC Ghaffur. Members concluded that the conditions for suspension, as laid down in Misconduct Regulations, had not been met.

The paramount concern for the MPA is that the MPS must maintain effective and coherent leadership and retain public confidence. Len Duvall, MPA chair, has written to the Commissioner seeking reassurance that appropriate management action will be taken.

Notes to editors

1. The allegations have been recorded as breaches of Codes 2, 3 and 12 of the Police Code of Conduct, a schedule of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2004:

• Code 2.
  Police officers have a particular responsibility to act with fairness and impartiality in all their dealings with the public and their colleagues.
• Code 3.
  Officers should treat members of the public and colleagues with courtesy and respect, avoiding abusive or deriding attitudes or behaviour. In particular, officers must avoid: favouritism of an individual or group; all forms of harassment, victimisation or unreasonable discrimination; and overbearing conduct to a colleague, particularly to one junior in rank or service.
• Code 12.
  Whether on or off duty, police officers should not behave in a way which is likely to bring discredit upon the police service.

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office