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Metropolitan Police Authority Stockwell scrutiny

METROPOLITAN POLICE AUTHORITY News Release (42/08) issued by The Government News Network on 24 July 2008

The MPA's Stockwell scrutiny report was discussed by members at the full Authority meeting on Thursday 24 July 2008

Len Duvall, chair of the MPA, said:

"It was not the MPA's role to investigate the events leading up to the tragic shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes - but it is our role to ensure that lessons are learnt and actions taken to ensure, as far as possible, that such a tragedy does not happen again.

"Three years on there is still no definitive version of exactly what happened and this cannot be good for the de Menezes family, the public or the Met. However, the coroner's inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes will lead us towards a final authoritative account.

"Learning lessons is a very difficult and complex process for the Met when the focus of that learning is still subject to pending legal issues. In this context our scrutiny report is work in progress, as there are still outstanding issues we cannot examine, but the report has reached the most logical conclusions possible prior to the inquest."

Speaking specifically about the scrutiny panel's findings, Len Duvall added:

"The panel commended the significant progress made in areas such as command and control, information management and communication, and strategic direction of critical incidents and operations.

"However, the implementation programme and change is not complete and the coroner's inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes may identify other issues that require action. Several areas are highlighted where more work is required - specifically technology, surveillance procedures, firearms mobilisation and control rooms that facilitate joint working both within the MPS and between the MPS and other services.

"Concerns about the practice of police officers conferring when making notes following a firearms operation must be addressed. This must take account of both the need for transparency and the need to respect the rights and sensibilities of firearms officers, who are all volunteers carrying out vital, sometimes dangerous, operations, and ultimately protecting the public.

"The Scrutiny report makes 34 recommendations. The MPA has requested that the Commissioner responds in writing outlining how the MPS intends to implement the recommendations and the Authority will ensure regular updates are received. We have also asked the Commissioner to submit a report no later than two months after the end of the coroner's inquest outlining any proposals for change as a result of the inquest's findings.

The MPA will continue to liase with the de Menezes family and their lawyers, and any views they offer will be taken into account when the Authority considers further reports.

"Many of the issues that faced the MPS in July 2005 are likely to present themselves again during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, potentially on a larger scale. Actions taken by the MPS to respond to Stockwell need to be tested continually as to capability and resilience in the context of future policing."

Notes to editors

1. The MPA Stockwell scrutiny report http://www.mpa.gov.uk/downloads/committees/mpa/080724-06-appendix01.pdf:

2. At the Co-ordination and Policing Committee in December 2007, members agreed terms of reference for a scrutiny of how the MPS has responded to the learning arising from the tragedy. The decision to undertake the scrutiny followed publication of two reports into the shooting by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and a guilty verdict as a result of the prosecution of the MPS under Health and Safety legislation.

3. The scrutiny panel members were: Dee Doocey, Faith Boardman, Jennette Arnold and Len Duvall, who chaired the panel

4. The scrutiny panel members took oral evidence from senior MPS and MPA officers and key partners, including the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). They also carried out a comprehensive review of documentation submitted by the MPS that evidenced the changes put in place since 2005.

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6. Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

Email: firstname.secondname@mpa.gov.uk
Website: http://www.mpa.gov.uk