January MQT Written questions and answers
Children under 18 in police cells [1]
Question No: 2016/0198
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/3509;
Over the last 6 months, how many children under 18 have been held a) overnight and b) over a weekend in police cells?
Your response being:
‘The MPS Commissioner is committed to ensuring that all detainees, including young people are protected and treated appropriately while in police custody. It is vital that appropriate safeguards are in place for all under-18s who come into contact with the police and that they are not held overnight in a police cell unless it is impractical to transfer them to local authority accommodation.
‘Overnight’ detention is defined as holding an individual within custody for four or more consecutive hours between midnight and 8:00am. ‘Weekend’ detention is defined as holding within custody an individual, who has been detained at some time on a Saturday or Sunday, for at least four hours before being released the following Monday.
The most recent data available (01/11/14 – 30/04/15) indicates that 3,005 and 483 under 18 detentions within custody ‘overnight’ and at the ‘weekend’ respectively.
NB – The number of detentions do not equate to the number of individuals detained. E.g. an individual detainee may have been arrested twice within the time period stated.’
Please provide a borough by borough breakdown of the 3,005 and 483 under 18 detentions within custody ‘overnight’ and at the ‘weekend’.
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Children under 18 in police cells [2]
Question No: 2016/0199
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/3509;
‘Over the last 6 months, how many children under 18 have been held a) overnight and b) over a weekend in police cells?’
Your response being:
‘The MPS Commissioner is committed to ensuring that all detainees, including young people are protected and treated appropriately while in police custody. It is vital that appropriate safeguards are in place for all under-18s who come into contact with the police and that they are not held overnight in a police cell unless it is impractical to transfer them to local authority accommodation.
‘Overnight’ detention is defined as holding an individual within custody for four or more consecutive hours between midnight and 8:00am. ‘Weekend’ detention is defined as holding within custody an individual, who has been detained at some time on a Saturday or Sunday, for at least four hours before being released the following Monday.
The most recent data available (01/11/14 – 30/04/15) indicates that 3,005 and 483 under 18 detentions within custody ‘overnight’ and at the ‘weekend’ respectively.
NB – The number of detentions do not equate to the number of individuals detained. E.g. an individual detainee may have been arrested twice within the time period stated’.
As The Police and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984 created a statutory duty that any arrested juvenile (those under the age of 18) be moved to “local authority accommodation … unless it is impractical to do so”; and as this is in conjunction with the “absolute duty to provide accommodation for children to be transferred out of custody under the Children’s Act 1989 (s.21 (2) (b)”, why such juveniles were not moved into local authority accommodation as required by law; and if it was impractical to do so, please explain why?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Children under 18 in police cells [3]
Question No: 2016/0200
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/3509;
‘Over the last 6 months, how many children under 18 have been held a) overnight and b) over a weekend in police cells?’
Your response being:
‘The MPS Commissioner is committed to ensuring that all detainees, including young people are protected and treated appropriately while in police custody. It is vital that appropriate safeguards are in place for all under-18s who come into contact with the police and that they are not held overnight in a police cell unless it is impractical to transfer them to local authority accommodation.
‘Overnight’ detention is defined as holding an individual within custody for four or more consecutive hours between midnight and 8:00am. ‘Weekend’ detention is defined as holding within custody an individual, who has been detained at some time on a Saturday or Sunday, for at least four hours before being released the following Monday.
The most recent data available (01/11/14 – 30/04/15) indicates that 3,005 and 483 under 18 detentions within custody ‘overnight’ and at the ‘weekend’ respectively.
NB – The number of detentions do not equate to the number of individuals detained. E.g. an individual detainee may have been arrested twice within the time period stated’
What are you doing to reduce and/or eliminate the need to detain children in police custody?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Children under 18 in police cells [4]
Question No: 2016/0201
Andrew Dismore
Since 30th April 2015, how many children under 18 have been held a) overnight and b) over a weekend in police cells?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Children under 18 in police cells [5]
Question No: 2016/0202
Andrew Dismore
Since 30th April 2015, how many children under 18 have been held a) overnight and b) over a weekend in police cells, broken down by borough?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Children under 18 in police cells [6]
Question No: 2016/0203
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/3509;
‘Over the last 6 months, how many children under 18 have been held a) overnight and b) over a weekend in police cells?’
Your response including:
‘The most recent data available (01/11/14 – 30/04/15) indicates that 3,005 and 483 under 18 detentions within custody ‘overnight’ and at the ‘weekend’ respectively.’
Over the same period, how many under 18s were transferred to local authority to safe beds, to prevent them from being held in police custody overnight?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Children under 18 in police cells [7]
Question No: 2016/0204
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/3509;
‘Over the last 6 months, how many children under 18 have been held a) overnight and b) over a weekend in police cells?’
Your response including:
‘The most recent data available (01/11/14 – 30/04/15) indicates that 3,005 and 483 under 18 detentions within custody ‘overnight’ and at the ‘weekend’ respectively.’
How many secure safe beds are there in total and how many are there by borough?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Children under 18 in police cells [8]
Question No: 2016/0205
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/3509;
‘Over the last 6 months, how many children under 18 have been held a) overnight and b) over a weekend in police cells?’
Your response being:
‘The MPS Commissioner is committed to ensuring that all detainees, including young people are protected and treated appropriately while in police custody. It is vital that appropriate safeguards are in place for all under-18s who come into contact with the police and that they are not held overnight in a police cell unless it is impractical to transfer them to local authority accommodation.
‘Overnight’ detention is defined as holding an individual within custody for four or more consecutive hours between midnight and 8:00am. ‘Weekend’ detention is defined as holding within custody an individual, who has been detained at some time on a Saturday or Sunday, for at least four hours before being released the following Monday.
The most recent data available (01/11/14 – 30/04/15) indicates that 3,005 and 483 under 18 detentions within custody ‘overnight’ and at the ‘weekend’ respectively.
NB – The number of detentions do not equate to the number of individuals detained. E.g. an individual detainee may have been arrested twice within the time period stated.’
What was the longest period for which an under 18 was detained in police custody?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Children under 18 in police cells [9]
Question No: 2016/0206
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/3509;
‘Over the last 6 months, how many children under 18 have been held a) overnight and b) over a weekend in police cells?’
Your response being:
‘The MPS Commissioner is committed to ensuring that all detainees, including young people are protected and treated appropriately while in police custody. It is vital that appropriate safeguards are in place for all under-18s who come into contact with the police and that they are not held overnight in a police cell unless it is impractical to transfer them to local authority accommodation.
‘Overnight’ detention is defined as holding an individual within custody for four or more consecutive hours between midnight and 8:00am. ‘Weekend’ detention is defined as holding within custody an individual, who has been detained at some time on a Saturday or Sunday, for at least four hours before being released the following Monday.
The most recent data available (01/11/14 – 30/04/15) indicates that 3,005 and 483 under 18 detentions within custody ‘overnight’ and at the ‘weekend’ respectively.
NB – The number of detentions do not equate to the number of individuals detained. E.g. an individual detainee may have been arrested twice within the time period stated.’
What was the age of the youngest under 18 a) detained overnight; and b) detained over a weekend?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Vulnerable people in police custody
Question No: 2016/0207
Andrew Dismore
What progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the report of HMIC ‘The welfare of vulnerable people in police custody’ March 2015?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Abstractions from Barnet BCU
Question No: 2016/0208
Andrew Dismore
For the last 6 months, how many officer shifts were abstracted from Barnet BCU for duties elsewhere?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Abstractions from Camden BCU
Question No: 2016/0209
Andrew Dismore
For the last 6 months, how many officer shifts were abstracted from Camden BCU for duties elsewhere?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
SNT bases
Question No: 2016/0210
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/4059;
What is going on with the Kentish Town SNT base at 99 Kentish Town Road, and the Gospel Oak one at 104a Queens Crescent?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.’
Will you now give a substantive reply?
The Mayor
Please see my response to MQ 2015/4059.
Prevention of Harassment warning letter – Form 9993 [1]
Question No: 2016/0211
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No 2015/4063;
What investigation is made before the issue of a Prevention of Harassment warning letter – Form 9993; and in particular, is the potential recipient of the letter given an opportunity to make his or her case or explanation in response to any allegations before a decision is made to serve it on them? And if not, why not?
Your response being:
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Will you now give a substantive reply?
The Mayor
Prevention of Harassment warning letter – Form 9993 [2]
Question No: 2016/0212
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No 2015/4064;
If somebody disputes the circumstances leading to the issue to that person of a Prevention of Harassment warning letter – Form 9993, are they able to challenge it, and if so how?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.’
Will you now give a substantive reply?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Prevention of Harassment warning letter – Form 9993 [3]
Question No: 2016/0213
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No 2015/4065;
If someone is issued with a MPS Prevention of Harassment warning letter – Form 9993, the equivalent of Police Information Notices , will the existence of this letter appear on any legitimate criminal record checks made at the request of an outside party, for example an employer or potential employer?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.’
Will you now give a substantive reply?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Police officer experience: Barnet
Question No: 2016/0214
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No 2015/4066;
- a) how many police constables are there presently stationed at Barnet; and b) how many of those have i) less than 2 years’ service; and ii) less than 1 year’s service?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.’
Will you now give a substantive reply?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Police officer experience: Camden
Question No: 2016/0215
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/4067;
- a) how many police constables are there presently stationed at Camden; and b) how many of those have i) less than 2 years’ service; and ii) less than 1 year’s service?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.’
Will you now give a substantive reply?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
The night tube and lack of toilet facilities
Question No: 2016/0216
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/4051;
Once the Night Tube opens, what policing arrangements will you put in place to ensure that passengers leaving their destination station after a night out do not ‘abuse’ neighbouring streets due to inadequate public toilet facilities?
Your response being:
‘TfL’s night bus services currently operate to all areas and Tube services already run late into the night. Night Tube services on Friday and Saturday night are therefore not anticipated to significantly increase demand for toilet facilities. On average customers using Night Tube services will benefit from reduced journey times of 20 minutes over comparable journeys by bus, and those travelling to terminus stations will reach their destinations even quicker.
Furthermore, an additional 100 police officers will be deployed across the Night Tube network. ‘
As there is already a problem of passengers leaving the tube late at night abusing local streets, for example in Edgware and Colindale due to the lack of toilet facilities, will you now consider providing additional temporary toilet facilities at or near stations served by the night tube when it is in operation?
The Mayor
London Underground (LU) has reviewed current toilet opening times and identified opportunities to continue to keep these available to customers overnight. As Night Tube is not anticipated to create any increased issues at stations without toilet facilities, LU has no plans to provide additional toilet facilities.
I expect staff and the additional transport police officers to continue to deter anti-social behaviour in all its forms.
Stirling Corner [1]
Question No: 2016/0217
Andrew Dismore
What progress is being made with the plan to improve pedestrian facilities at this roundabout, and when will public consultation begin?
The Mayor
A design for a fully signalised pedestrian facility across the A1 on the southern side of Stirling Corner roundabout is currently being assessed through traffic modelling. Subject to further design, modelling and approvals, a public consultation is expected to take place in late 2016.
Stirling Corner [2]
Question No: 2016/0218
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/4053:
‘Further to Question No: 2015/3798
‘Further to Question No: 2015/3530
‘As it is now well over 3 years since you promised to cycle round Stirling Corner, and despite regular reminders of your promise you have failed to do so, do you intend to honour your promise before you leave office as Mayor next May?’
Your response being:
‘It is now well over 3 years since you first asked a question about cycling round Stirling Corner. The answer I gave at the time was ‘I cycle the whole of London. When I next do Stirling Corner I will give you a report.’
Have you cycled round Stirling Corner yet? If not have you a visit to the area in mind before the end of your term of office?
Your response being:
‘I cycle the whole of London. When I next do Stirling Corner I will give you a report.’
This response clearly infers that you have cycled round Stirling Corner in the past. When was this? If you have not done so, do you not consider your answer to be misleading? And when are you going to do so ‘next’, so as to honour your promise to do so? Will you do so before your term of office expires?
Your response being:
‘The answer I gave over 3 years ago was ‘I cycle the whole of London. When I next do Stirling Corner I will give you a report.’
As it is now over 3 years since you made the promise to cycle round the junction and as your term of office is coming to an end, is this to be yet another of your unfulfilled promises?
The Mayor
Please see my response to MQ 2012 /4161.
Mill Hill Circus
Question No: 2016/0219
Andrew Dismore
What progress is being made with the plan to improve traffic flows at this roundabout, and when will public consultation begin?
The Mayor
TfL is developing proposals at Mill Hill Circus to reduce congestion at the junction.
A transfer of land between the London Borough of Barnet and TfL is required as part of the proposed road capacity increase. A meeting is being arranged between TfL, LB Barnet and the Mill Hill Residents Association to discuss this issue. Subject to the land availability being confirmed, public consultation is planned to take place in late 2016.
Mayors’ Statement Against Antisemitism
Question No: 2016/0220
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/4057;
‘Further to Question No: 2015/3809
‘Have you signed the Mayors’ Statement Against Antisemitism
http://www.ajc.org/site/c.7oJILSPwFfJSG/b.9294845/k.C234/Statement_on_AntiSemitism_by_Mayors_and_Municipal_Leaders.htm
and if not will you now do so?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.’
I am surprised that you could not answer this question when it was asked: surely you know whether or not you have signed this important statement? And if you don’t know what you have or have not signed, what does that say about your professed commitment to dealing with this important issue? And what does that say about the extent to which you are on top of this one of your several jobs?’
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’
As you still don’t seem to know whether or not you have signed this important statement, should the community read into your inability to answer that you are not as concerned about anti Semitism as you have professed in the past to be?
The Mayor
Please see my response to MQ 2015/3809.
Human Rights Act
Question No: 2016/0221
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No 2015/4035;
Further to your answer to Question No: 2015/2759:
‘Do you consider the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights provide important safeguards to Londoners in their dealings with state bodies including the GLA family?’
Your response being:
‘There are some important safeguards in both of these documents, which, if we were to replace them with a new British Bill of Rights, would need to be maintained.’
Which of those safeguards do you regard as important; and which do you regard as unimportant?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.’
Will you now give a substantive reply?
The Mayor
Please see my response to MQ 2015/4035.
Taxi Drivers
Question No: 2016/0222
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No 2015/4044;
Further to your answer to Question No: 2015/3543
‘Do you regret calling taxi drivers ‘luddites’?’
Your response being:
‘This was not aimed specifically at taxi drivers’.
As the audience was almost exclusive taxi drivers, at whom were your comments aimed?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.’
Will you now give a substantive reply?
The Mayor
Please see my response to MQ 2015/4044.
Royal Free Hospital bus shelter
Question No: 2016/0223
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No 2015/4047;
The bus shelter at the closest stop to the Royal Free Hospital is privately owned by JC Decaux, and I understand is in the process of being replaced. With the advent of bad weather, will you prevail upon them to do this work straight away?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.’
Will you now give a substantive reply?
The Mayor
Please see my response to MQ 2015/4047.
Water Cannon
Question No: 2016/0224
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2015/2842;
‘As the Home Secretary has now refused you permission to use them in London, what do you now intend to do with them?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.’
Will you now give a substantive reply?
The Mayor
Please see my response to MQ 2015/2842.
Borough officer abstractions
Question No: 2016/0225
Andrew Dismore
How many Officer Shifts were abstracted from each London borough in the last 3 months?
The Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
New Year’s fireworks display
Question No: 2016/0226
Andrew Dismore
What was the cost of the 2016 new year’s fireworks display; was any of the cost offset by sponsorship or other external sources, and if so, how much?
The Mayor
London’s New Year’s Eve with Unicef (2015) cost £3.1 million pounds. The costs were offset by ticket revenue and commercial revenue from catering concessions, filming fees and partnership contributions. We are unable to provide a breakdown of the commercial income as this is commercially confidential.
Hertfordshire bus routes
Question No: 2016/0227
Andrew Dismore
Hertfordshire County Council have cut £390,000 of funding to Transport for London which helps run the 107, 142, 292 and 298 bus routes. What do you plan to do to maintain these services?
The Mayor
TfL is aware that Hertfordshire County Council is considering its budget with regard to bus subsidy and understand this is still under review. Subject to the outcome of these discussions, TfL will review all the possible options taking account of cross boundary travel and TfL’s overall funding outlook. Any proposed changes will be subject to consultation.
Bus services in Arkley
Question No: 2016/0228
Andrew Dismore
The 107 bus is the only regular service for Arkley in High Barnet. If funding from Hertfordshire County Council for the service is cut, how will you ensure that residents there are not cut off from public transport?
The Mayor
Please see my answer to MQ 2016 /0227. I can assure you that residents in Arkley will not be cut off from public transport.
Bus services in Stirling Corner
Question No: 2016/0229
Andrew Dismore
Stirling Corner is currently served by the 292 and the 107 bus routes. Both are under threat from reductions in funding to Transport for London from Hertfordshire County Council. When you finally get round to cycling around the corner, will you also talk to residents about how they will be able to use public transport if the bus routes are lost?
The Mayor
Please see answer to MQ 2016 /0227.
50th anniversary of England’s World Cup victory in 1966
Question No: 2016/0230
Andrew Dismore
As you no doubt will realise, this summer will be the 50th anniversary of England’s only World Cup victory in 1966 at Wembley, the squad including 7 players from London clubs. Are there any plans to mark this historic event in London’s sporting history?
The Mayor
The FA will be coordinating a series of events throughout 2016 to remember the successes of 50 years ago. This begun earlier this month with a launch event marking 50 years since the 1966 World Cup draw took place at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, in the same room where the draw for the tournament took place in 1966. Sir Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, George Cohen and Gordon Banks were in attendance at the event.
Wembley Stadium will stage a major exhibition in the summer to mark the anniversary, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the FA. The FA is also working with English Heritage to mark Bobby Moore’s childhood home in east London with the placement of a commemorative plaque.
Further events will follow throughout the year, including activity ahead of England’s EURO2016 warm-up match against Germany in Berlin and a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the
World Cup final on 30 July 2016.
Euston Station Strategic Redevelopment board
Question No: 2016/0231
Andrew Dismore
In your report you state that the Euston Station Strategic Redevelopment board will be established early in the New Year. What community representation will there be on the board?
The Mayor
The Government has agreed to set up a new body (the Euston Station Strategic Redevelopment Board or ESSRB) to coordinate and facilitate the coordinated the development of emerging schemes around Euston including HS2, NR station rebuild, Crossrail 2 and Oversite development. TfL and the GLA will be represented, along with LB Camden, Network Rail, HS2 and the DfT. Terms of Reference for the new ESSRB are being developed with a view to the first meeting in the spring.
It is essential that the community as well as local businesses are fully represented in the development of Euston. The LB of Camden is working closely with HS2 Ltd to ensure that the views of the local community are heard.
