London Crime Reduction Board meeting minutes - 2 February 2021

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, Chair

Sophie Linden, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime

Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility

Sir Stephen House, Deputy Commissioner, Metropolitan Police Service

Will Balakrishnan, Director MOPAC

James Bottomley, MOPAC

Natasha Plummer, MOPAC

Lib Peck, VRU

Claire Waxman, London Victims Commissioner

John O’Brien, London Councils

Doug Flight, London Councils

Carolyn Downs, London Councils

Cllr Gareth Roberts, London Councils

Cllr Rachael Robathan, London Councils

Cllr Jas Athwal, London Councils

Georgia Gould, London Councils

Colin Allars, Youth Justice Board

Damien McCleave, HMCTS

Lionel Idan, Crown Prosecution Service

Barry Hughes, Crown Prosecution Service

Phil Douglas, Ministry of Justice

Sinead Dervin, NHS England

Kilvinder Vigurs, NPS

Ian Bickers, HMPPS

Nick Bowes, Mayor of London’s Private Office

Sasha Salmon, Mayor of London’s Private Office

Tom Pickup, London Councils

Ed Wardley, MOPAC

Tom Burnham, MOPAC

Paul Rowan, MOPAC

Roisin Briody, MOPAC

Michelle Chapman, MPS

Rory Murray, MPS

Daniel Houghton, London Councils

Jade Appleton, London Councils

Tony Hawker, MOPAC

The minutes of 20 October 2020 were agreed.

An update was provided on community engagement, recommendations and delivery to date. In the weeks since the Action Plan launch in November there was good progress in a number of areas such as the Police Complainants survey, MPS work on the pre-handcuffing review, and road traffic stops.

The MPS work in relation to the Action Plan was summarised. A ‘buddy’ scheme with support for each new BAME officer was in place. There was a large and ambitious outreach scheme to aid recruitment with a team in each BCU. Other initiatives included: the reintroduction of the residency criteria, equal merits when recruiting, work with the Home Office and College of Policing to redesign recruitment processes, particularly the assessment centre on day one which was problematic. The MPS was pushing for legislative change to increase recruitment of BAME candidates.

The Board was given a summary on progress on the Youth Action Plan. The Deputy Mayor convened a meeting on 25 January to gain support from partners for the plan and to agree actions and outcomes. Partners were thanked for their support in building the plan which was developed in close consultation with young people, communities and VCS organisations via a series of workshops and meetings. Partners committed their support to the plan and the delivery of the actions.

In summary, the Plan was co-produced by partner agencies and young people whose voices have been made evident in the work. The next steps were to finalise and launch the plan and then begin delivery against its objectives as soon as possible.

The current PCP had a broad and ambitious set of objectives supported by key strategies There were significant achievements against each of the objectives with contributions to delivery from the mayoralty and key LCRB partners. Notable achievements included significant investment in the police with percentage increases in BAME and female officers, the championing of technology for instance BWV and the transparency and accountability that this has delivered. The PCP brought focus on victims with the appointment of the Victims Commissioner, the VCOP review, the London Victims and Witness Service, services for women in contact with the criminal justice system, and additional emergency accommodation for people fleeing domestic abuse. The creation of the VRU brought about a preventative public health approach to violence and a countering violent extremism strategy was launched.

Work was underway to look at the priorities and challenges for the next PCP. Currently work was focused on engagement and developing an evidence base with partners.

There was a short update on the work of the VRU. Several issues were highlighted including: the work around Play Space with the boroughs; the development and assessment of the borough violence reduction action plans (VRAP) and to bring together groups to work on issues of concern; and, My Ends proposals for longer-term funding. There was a more general programmes of work to locate vulnerable young people and make them more resilient; work with the People Referral Unit to look at exploitation and a parenting programme and networks for parents in support of adolescents.

The governance reforms of the LCRB and LCJB was discussed. Also, membership of the proposed Efficiency Board and the Safer Streets Board was raised and noted.