The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) exists to make sure
that London’s police are accountable for the services they
provide to people in the capital.
Celia Prentice
on 31 October 2008 at 14:39
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55/08
31 October 2008
The Metropolitan Police Authority has established a panel of
Authority members to review Metropolitan Police Estate
development plans, including future community engagement
programmes.
Steve O'Connell, Chairman of the Metropolitan Police
Authority Finance and Resources Committee, said:
"The police estate plays a vital role in supporting
the delivery of effective and efficient policing for
communities across the capital.
"But many of our buildings are quite literally unfit
for purpose, constructed in an age when the technologies,
transport and working methods we take for granted were
undreamed of. The estate must serve everybody's needs -
the police need modern facilities to tackle crime, while
the public want and deserve a visible presence in their
midst to reassure them that the police can respond to crime
effectively.
"Plans to modernise police facilities were published
at the end of last year and included a three-month
consultation period to enable local communities to comment
on the proposals. We now recognise that these
well-intentioned plans were poorly presented and gave the
impression that every borough should conform to an
identical, one-size-fits-all plan. This was never the case,
as we recognise the size and complexity of some boroughs
need far more tailored solutions. Community consultation
was also inadequate in some boroughs and failed to engage
widely enough.
"Added to these concerns, the current economic climate
means that budgets will become increasingly tight and
therefore impact on development plans, so while building
projects that are already underway will continue, long-term
projects need to be reviewed.
"Consequently, the Authority has established an MPA
member panel to revisit the plans and provide some clarity
between strategy and delivery of the estate modernisation
programme, including the issue of meaningful public
consultation. The panel will present its findings to the
Authority in Spring 2009.
"I want to stress three things to reassure Londoners:
no decisions about the police estate in London have been
taken; meaningful consultation will take place where
communities have raised substantial objections to potential
changes; and no buildings with front counter facilities,
where people can engage in face to face contact with the
police, will be closed without fully operational, improved
facilities being opened first."
Notes for
Editors
The MPA member panel comprises Graham Speed (independent
member) Chairman, Dee Doocey (Assembly member) and Len Duvall
(Assembly member). Terms of Reference for the panel will be
presented to the next meeting of the Finance and Resources
Committee on 20 November.
Further media
information
For further information, please contact the
MPA
press office
Celia Prentice
on 23 July 2008 at 13:21
Tags:
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41/08
23 July 2008
The Metropolitan Police Authority today published the
findings of a three-month programme of public consultation
about the future development of the Metropolitan Police
Estate in London.
Plans to modernise police facilities were published for each
of the capital’s 32 boroughs last November, followed by a
three-month consultation period to enable local communities
to comment on the proposals to make the police estate more
responsive to everyone’s requirements. It was always intended
to publish the results of this public consultation.
Steve O’Connell, chair of the MPA Finance Committee, said:
“The MPA has discussed in public committee the
unsatisfactory and limited nature of this previous
consultation process. By publishing the results today, we
are fulfilling our intention to make the results available
to our communities.
“Our future plans to develop the Metropolitan Police Estate
will require us to talk more directly with local
communities. We need Londoners to understand what services
operate from our buildings, more broadly how the police
work in the boroughs and how the built estate supports
this. Only by providing this information can communities to
take part in an informed, constructive dialogue.
“Over the summer period we are looking at the whole estate
strategy, including the development plans that were
consulted on, as part of the overall budget process. This
will be an opportunity to explore how communities can
become further involved to ensure we move forward in a way
that will satisfy everyone’s requirements.
“I want to stress once again that nothing will be done in
haste and no decisions about the police estate in London
have been taken.”
Notes to editors
1. The MPA has responsibility for all the buildings used by
the Metropolitan Police in London and we recognise the vital
role the estate plays in supporting the delivery of effective
and efficient policing across the capital. The Authority is
acutely aware that the estate is ageing - approximately 35%
of the buildings pre-dating 1935 - and many buildings are
inappropriately located for today’s communities. To deliver
an excellent police service, our buildings have to meet both
today’s requirements as well as our future demands. Simply
upgrading or renewing individual parts of the estate is no
longer an option and there is an urgent need for major
change.
2. The results of the public consultation for the Asset
Management Plan (AMP) for each borough, are available to view
on the MPA website at:
www.mpa.gov.uk/issues/estate/default.htm#amp
Further media information
For further information, please contact the
MPA
press office