City Hall Policing report, November 2016
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee’s meeting held on 6 October 2016 which was used for a question and answer session on preventing extremism are now available here.
It was clear from our session, that there are a lot of shortcomings in this programme.
Mayor Khan has invited Londoners to take part in the consultation about the 2017 Police and Crime Plan which will shape the Met’s future funding and strategic direction. The public consultation closes on 16 November 2016.
The Mayor’s priorities for the next plan include the following manifesto commitments:
- real neighbourhood policing
- keeping young people safe
- tackling violence against women and girls
- hate crime and counter terrorism
The Mayor wants to hear from Londoners who had been victims of crime and those who had interacted with police, as well as finding out how safe they felt in the capital.
Lord Toby Harris’s wide-ranging review of the capital’s resilience has been published. The review was commissioned in May by the Mayor to ensure London’s emergency services had the training, equipment and funding necessary to keep London safe and respond to any incidents. In his report he commends the services for their improved major incident readiness and says responses are now “substantially faster and more effective” than was the case five years ago. He also praises the work done by the intelligence agencies and the counter-terrorist police who he credits as being “amongst the best in the world.”
The review’s 127 recommendations aim to build on the existing resilience capability. and include trialling public alert technology, allowing authorities to alert Londoners of a major terrorist attack by sending messages to mobile devices, the permanent inclusion of the Mayor in all COBRA meetings that affect London and the installation of CCTV on all underground and mainline trains and ensuing live and recorded footage is more easily accessible to emergency services.
In her first major interview London’s deputy mayor for policing Sophie Linden said that victims of crime would not be left to “suffer in silence” as she announced plans for an online “live chat” to provide extra support. For the full Evening Standard interview, please click here.
Ms Linden also:
- Warned Londoners not to expect the Met to “enforce our way out of” the rise in hate crime since the Brexit vote and criticised the Government for putting communities under pressure.
- Called for a limit on the number of armed police on London’s streets, the day before an independent review into the capital’s preparedness in the event of a terror attack.
- Urged politicians not to be afraid to “call it like it is” on radicalisation by urging Muslim communities to do more to tackle the scourge.
- Demanded more Manchester-style powers over criminal justice, possibly including youth offending, supporting victims and probation.
Assistant Commissioner Helen King has announced her retirement from the Metropolitan Police Service to be the first police officer elected to an Oxbridge College.AC King will take up the post of Principal of St Anne’s College at Oxford University in April 2017.
My usual range of Mayor’s Questions and some answers:
Security and safety at the Olympic Stadium
Question No: 2016/3914
Andrew Dismore
Chris Allison, a former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, has been appointed by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) after violent scenes at West Ham football matches to help with security. Is his pay being reimbursed by West Ham United FC or does it fall on the LLDC and thus the taxpayer to meet?
Written response from the Mayor
As the owners of London Stadium, E20 Stadium LLP, a joint venture between LLDC and Newham Council, are responsible for security arrangements at the venue and, therefore, meeting the costs of Chris Allison’s short term consultancy work.
The safety and security of spectators at all events held at the Stadium is paramount and the venue’s unrivalled ability to host a wide range of different events can pose particular challenges.
Chris Allison is a highly experienced former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner with unrivalled expertise in major event and football policing, and familiar with the Stadium from his work as the London 2012 National Olympic Security Coordinator and security advisor to the 2015 Rugby World Cup. His expertise will be invaluable in helping ensure that all events at the Stadium pass off safely.
West Ham and the Olympic Stadium
Question No: 2016/3935
Andrew Dismore
Are you satisfied about the policing and security arrangements for West Ham home games at the Olympic Stadium?
Written response from the Mayor
The vast majority of fans who have been to the Stadium in the past few months have behaved impeccably. Sadly a very small minority have not, but they have been dealt with through life time bans and, where appropriate, arrests.
The last few games have passed without incident inside the Stadium and the LLDC will continue to work with the MPS, the stadium operator LS185, West Ham United and the London Borough of Newham to provide all spectators with the safest and most enjoyable experience possible.
I am confident that the MPS has a proportionate policing plan in place, to ensure they meet their core policing responsibilities. The police operation is complimentary to that of the stadium operators, and other partners and the policing plan is based upon an assessment of threat, risk and harm, and is consistent with national grading of the threat of crime and disorder associated with football matches.
I am pleased that on 8th August 2016, West Ham agreed to install a suitable Airwave radio system which, once installed, will enable police deployments within the stadium.
Policing football costs [1]
Question No: 2016/3908
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2016/3401
‘How much was refunded by London Football professional clubs in respect of policing costs in each of the last 3 financial years; and how much of that was paid by clubs in each division?’
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’.
Will you now give a substantive reply?
Written response from the Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Policing football costs [2]
Question No: 2016/3909
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2016/3402
How much was refunded by each Premier League London Football club in respect of policing costs in each of the last 3 financial years?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’.
Will you now give a substantive reply?
Written response from the Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Policing football costs [3]
Question No: 2016/3910
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2016/3403
What is the best estimate of the total actual cost of policing professional football in London in each of the last 3 financial years, and how much of that relates to clubs in each division?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’.
Will you now give a substantive reply?
Written response from the Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Policing football costs [4]
Question No: 2016/3911
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2016/3404
What is the best estimate of the total actual cost of policing each Premier League London Football club in each of the last 3 financial years?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’.
Will you now give a substantive reply?
Written response from the Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Policing football costs [5]
Question No: 2016/3912
Andrew Dismore
How many extra police constables could the Met afford if London professional football clubs contributed to the Met the full cost of policing their matches?
Written response from the Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Dedicated police officers for schools (1)
Question No: 2016/3937
Andrew Dismore
How many Police officers in London were dedicated to schools links last year, compared to this year? Can you also provide the figure for a) Barnet b) Camden?
Written response from the Mayor
As of 11th October 2016 there are a total of 292 Safer Schools Officers working with secondary Schools across London. For the previous year there were 282 Safer Schools Officers.
The specific schools officers for Barnet and Camden are as follows:
Barnet
- September 2015 8
- 11th October 2016 8
Camden
- September 2015 11
- 11th October 2016 11
Dedicated police officers for schools (2)
Question No: 2016/3938
Andrew Dismore
Do you agree that school link police officers are an important service available to schools, reduce crime in the long-term and keep children safer at school? Are you committed to keeping the current arrangement for school link police officers across London, especially the number of dedicated officers?
Written response from the Mayor
I agree that schools officers provide an important service. I am committed to ensuring that schools officers continue to work closely with schools. I have no plans to reduce their overall number across London.
Dedicated police officers for schools (3)
Question No: 2016/3939
Andrew Dismore
What changes are planned to the school link police officer service in Barnet? Can you ensure that they are not reduced?
Written response from the Mayor
Schools Officers provide a vital role to support young people and I have no plans to reduce their overall number across London.
Dedicated police officers for schools (4)
Question No: 2016/3940
Andrew Dismore
Will you guarantee that additional provision in Safer Neighbourhood Teams will not be met from dedicated school link officers?
Written response from the Mayor
I am committed that the additional Dedicated Ward Officer will remain a separate role to the schools officer role to ensure I deliver on my commitment of real neighbourhood policing.
Senior officers’ perquisites
Question No: 2016/3913
Andrew Dismore
Further to Question No: 2016/3416
What was the cost of perquisites awarded to officers of the rank of commander and above in the last financial year; what perquisites are senior officers entitled to or to claim for; what are the criteria applied to qualify for perquisites; and what was the highest value of perquisites received by a single officer?
Your response being:
‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’.
Will you now give a substantive reply?
Written response from the Mayor
Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.
Andrew Dismore AM
Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden
