Metropolitan
Police Authority Stockwell Scrutiny
The MPA's Stockwell scrutiny report was discussed
by members at the full Authority meeting on Thursday 24th 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.'
