Gun Crime Scrutiny

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) has conducted a scrutiny of gun crime in London intended to improve the way the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) responds to armed criminality. A series of evidence hearings enabled the scrutiny panel to take evidence from key witnesses. The role of the evidence giving sessions was for evidence/information to be placed before the scrutiny panel for it to consider and arrive at findings, conclusions and recommendations against the terms of reference.

MPA Gun Crime Scrutiny report
Report presented to the Co-ordination and Policing Committee on 6 Feb 04

Terms of reference

The objectives of the scrutiny were to:

clarify absolute and comparative levels and trends of gun crime in London as well as performance in subsequent criminal justice processes;
describe the management structures used in, and resources available to, the MPS in relation to gun crime;
assess the extent to which Special Notice 5-02 was implemented and, where implemented, the extent to which output/outcomes were cost effective;
assess the extent to which recommendations from local inspection of Operations Trident and the Flying Squad have been implemented and have been cost effective; and
consult with key partners, communities and individuals in London to inform the approach that should be taken by the MPA and/or MPS.

The scrutiny will focus on the MPS’ strategic response to gun crime rather than the immediate operational response to an armed incident. The procedures covering the role and deployment of armed officers for example, will not form a major part of the review. The scrutiny will also cover the link between guns and drugs to a limited extent. The scrutiny will not address the question of whether or not the police should be armed.

Gun Crime Scrutiny Panel meetings

All scrutiny evidence sessions were open to the public unless the witness requested to give evidence in a closed session.
Notice of open sessions were posted in the events section of this website and attendance was by prior appointment only.
All meetings were open to the press and public except the last session on Tuesday 16 September with senior MPS officers from Brent.

Press Release

Date	No	Title
06 Feb 04	07/04	MPA scrutiny makes key recommendations to improve Met response to gun crime in the capital
06 Nov 03	90/03	MPA welcomes Gun Crime report
22 May 03	34/03	MPA Gun Crime Scrutiny