Agenda item

The commission then received a presentation (attached to minutes) from the Borough Command Unit (BCU) Commander Sebastian Adjei-Addoh and Acting Chief Inspector Aaron Barnes on the following points

·  London MET undergoing reform; Baroness Casey report highlighted key issues; Policing in community and feedback from residents

·  Increase in inspectors in neighbourhood policing, officers, sergeants and Inspectors; Modelling of PCSO’s in wards; stronger policing uplift wards

·  Structure of policing and Neighbourhood teams; Safer schools and Partnership function have Borough Command Units

·  Key challenges- robberies and theft snatches, Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and drug dealing; Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG); Homicides and rape investigations pulling resources assigned to ASB.

·  Systemic issues within the National Policing Service (NPS) such as racism, misogyny and homophobia

·  Stop and search pilots through intelligence, respect and information; Trust and confidence improvement plan in the community

The commission then asked questions on the following topics

·  Leadership on the usage of Tasers; lack of accountability due to restructuring and redundancy of Borough Commanders positions’; down from 32 to 12 BCU Commanders.

·  Rise in violent mugging on school children and young people, Trauma Support Unit to involve feedback from experiences of young people

·  Triage of mental health issues with regards to contacting emergency services

·  Baroness Casey review findings suggest if improvements are not achieved, it could possibly mean an inevitable breakdown of MET police into national and London Police units.

BCU Commander Sebastian informed the commission that the MET now has process for mental health issues encountered in policing and self-harm cases. It has been agreed by the Police Commissioner that mental health cases are to be referred to partner agencies and not deal by the MET police, as it’s a huge drain on resources. MET is working with partner organisations to provide the right support and help. However, when there is a danger to life, police do intervene. Stop and Search process are also being reviewed. There are horrific case of people being stabbed for no reason and violent robberies. One hundred officers are based in Walworth focusing on violent crimes. MET police highly committed to tackling youth violence and crime.

The commission learnt from BCU Commander Sebastian that the individual mental health cases can vary, requiring support from NHS and/or partner organisations and/or the police. On suicidal cases, it can vary from individuals having thoughts about suicide to individuals jumping off a bridge, the latter would need police intervention as it’s an immediate threat to life. On the possible breakdown of MET police into smaller London Units, there is a need for urgency for the new MET Police for London, if not, the Police Commissioner for London believes there could be radical changes.

The commission the asked further questions on the following themes

·  Possibility of a Police Oversight Board for accountability; posters in the local areas showing local police contacts.

·  Operation Nightingale

BCU Commander Sebastian informed the commission that the MET is accountable to Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) which conducts its own scrutiny, but we are open and willing to join local bodies to get feedback on policing. Contact posters in local areas is an excellent idea to increase visibility of local policing.

Chief Inspector Barnes informed the commission that Operation Nightingale was a university based project, where-in random adjoining areas were selected across options from the entire borough to be monitored for police infrastructure requirements.

The commission then discussed possible recommendations on the following points

·  Cabinet to establish a Police Oversight Body; intermediate body between MOPAC and Ward Panels

·  Specificity of priorities for principles in homelessness strategy with regards to the needs of the borough, especially these priorities to be enlisted in the strategy action plan and tabled for consideration with draft strategy to Cabinet.

·  Urgency of access to services process; working with partners

·  Single point of council contact for co-ordination of homelessness referrals, reintroduction of single point of contact council contact role

·  Review mechanism of draft strategy on homelessness; visibility and inclusion of the affected protected groups (Women, LGBTQ+) within the homelessness strategy.