This resource is from the About MPA section. This section contains information on what the MPA is, why it exists, what its tasks are, and how it is structured.

Sections available here:

• Contents
• What is the MPA?
• Our policies and procedures
• Comments, compliments and complaints
• The Morris Inquiry
• Freedom of Information
• Intellectual property
• Translations
• Crime statistics

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA)

Contents

• Careers at MPA
• Freedom of Information
  • Publication Scheme: part 3 - list of publications
• Intellectual property
• Members
• Publications
• Responsible procurement
• Standing Orders/regulations
• Translations

What is the MPA?

It is an independent statutory body, established under The Greater London Authority Act 1999, and came into effect in July 2000.

• MPA main contact information (including map)
• MPA Senior Management Team
• Internal Audit
  Helps to improve the way the MPS runs its internal business.
• Mission Vision Values

Why does London need the MPA?

The establishment of the MPA marked a fundamental change in the policing of London. The Authority gives Londoners a regime of local democratic accountability for policing that previously did not exist – its duties and responsibilities formerly rested directly with the Home Secretary. Members of the Authority scrutinise and support the work of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) (www.met.police.uk).

• MPA Committees
• MPA scrutinies

The Authority’s tasks are to:

• increase community confidence and trust in London’s police service;
• secure continuous improvement in the way policing is provided in London;
• publish an Annual Policing Plan in consultation with London’s communities;
• set policing targets and monitors performance regularly against those targets;
• oversee the appointment and discipline of senior police officers;
• oversee formal inquiries and the implementation of their recommendations;
• be accountable for the management of the police budget.

An essential part of the Authority’s role is to listen to the real concerns of Londoners about crime and policing to inform the Annual Policing Plan and the setting of priorities for the forthcoming year.

• Annual Report of the MPS & MPA, Policing Plan and Towards the Safest City on MPA website or alternatively on MPS website.

How does the MPA listen to Londoners?

As part of its duties the MPA seeks to listen and engage with Londoners. This is a crucial part of the MPAs activities as it informs policing priorities for the year ahead and the way London is policed.

Consultation events

The MPA conducts and attends numerous events and conducts community engagement across greater London.

Community engagement in every borough

The MPA is committed to ensuring that every borough in London has a community engagement mechanism for local people to speak to their local borough command about policing issues. In most boroughs this takes the form of borough Community Engagement Groups (CEGs). In other boroughs consultative mechanisms and the way the local community can speak with the local police are being reviewed or developed.

How is the MPA structured?

The Metropolitan Police Authority has twenty-three members, twelve from the London Assembly appointed by the Mayor, four magistrates appointed by the Greater London Magistrates Courts Association and seven independent members, one appointed directly by the Home secretary, with the other vacancies appointed after being advertised openly. Members are appointed for a period of four years. The Chair of the MPA is chosen by the members themselves, all of whom are eligible.

• Members
• Members’ Job Profiles
• Members’ Code of Conduct
• Members’ Allowances Scheme
• Members’ Expenses Scheme
• Members attendance record

Each member is linked with at least one borough. This means that wherever you live a member is taking a keen interest in policing issues in your area.

• Geographical link member list

Furthermore members are elected to promote and represent views or policies in specific areas of work agreed by the MPA and its committees.

• Lead member roles

Our policies and procedures

• MPA and MPS joint equality statement
• MPA accounts
  Statements of accounts, audit letters, budget submission, budget books and process.
• Treasury Management Strategy
• The Standing Orders/Regulations
  Details the committee terms of reference, the scheme of delegation to the officers, the Authority's code of conduct, the financial Regulations and the contract Regulations
• MPA equality schemes
  These schemes demonstrate the Authority’s continuing commitment to combat discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and promote good relations between all people.
  • Gender Equality Scheme
  • Disability Equality Scheme
  • Race Equality Scheme

Comments, compliments and complaints

The MPA aims to provide the highest standard of service to members of the public, as well as staff and officers of the Metropolitan Police Service and we do our best to get things right. We recognise that things can always be improved and that they can sometimes go wrong. That is why we welcome your comments, suggestions and complaints.

You can:

• contact your MPA link member for your London borough
• make comments, suggestions and complaints to the Authority
• contact the MPA using the Contacts section
• use the Comment about this page link in the right-hand bar of most pages to comment about a specific page.

The Morris Inquiry

The independent inquiry into professional standards and employment matters in the Metropolitan Police Service, commissioned by the MPA, was formally launched on 21 January 2004.

• The Morris Inquiry Report

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act (FoI) 2000 provides a statutory right of access, which entitles people to ask the MPA for information.

• Publication scheme part 1: Introduction
  Sets out the information we routinely make publicly available.
• Your Right To Know
  A leaflet about the public right of access to other information held by the MPA.
• Disclosure log
  The log lists requests to the MPA for information under the FoI Act since January 2005.
• Releases
  From time to time the MPA may release other information not listed on the publication scheme.

Intellectual property

• Information on MPA/MPS intellectual property

Translations

The MPA can provide translations of documents on this site in other languages on request.

Crime statistics

In line with the principles of openness and public accountability, the Metropolitan Police Service publishes detailed figures for the numbers of crimes reported within its operational area and the numbers of cases that are successfully cleared up.

• MPS crime statistics (on MPS Website)
• Borough based crime statistics (on MPS Website)

The following pages on the MPA website are relevant:

• Careers at MPA
• Map of MPA location

The following external websites are relevant:

• Metropolitan Police Service