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Metropolitan Police Authority - December meeting

67/07
18 December 2007

A meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) will be held in meeting room 1 (ground floor), 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1 on Thursday 20 December 2007 at 10.00 a.m.

Members of the Authority will consider a review of the MPA policy on charging for events. Whilst the current policy is fit for purpose and is being used efficiently, the review has identified areas where it could be even more effective in dealing with future challenges.

Len Duvall, chair of the MPA, said:

“London is a vibrant and immensely busy capital city and the MPA and MPS have a statutory duty to police all marches, demonstrations, ceremonial and security events held here. We also acknowledge that some capital city events are equally important to London’s communities.

“Commercial events are very different. When officers are deployed on this type of event they cannot be serving their communities and tackling crime on the streets. We need to ensure that commercial event organisers in London are fully aware that they will be expected to meet the full cost of policing in line with the MPA published Special Services Agreement.

“The MPS constantly reviews how it deals with events in order to reduce aid commitment whilst maintaining an effective and safe policing response. Despite this, resources used in policing events are still significant and in the run up to the Olympics the number of events is likely to increase.

“The most costly commercial events to police are football matches. During the period subject to this review ((October 2005 – September 2006) there were 346 football matches played in London with a total policing cost of £6.6million. Although the MPS sought payment for 257 of these matches, only £2.1 million was recouped as current policy states that MPS can only be recompensed if officers are deployed inside the grounds. Therefore the MPS subsidised football to the tune of £4.5 million. Whilst the financial commitment of the football authorities to the ‘Kickz’ community based youth diversion projects and its inherent benefits are fully acknowledged, it is clear that policing football matches is a financial burden.”

Len Duvall concluded:

“Borough and event commanders must continue to take every opportunity to recoup policing costs from the organisers of commercial events by working closely with them and making use of partnerships with Local Authorities where appropriate.

“The MPA will strive towards full cost recovery by April 2009 and it is hoped this phased approach will allow event organisers to plan and budget accordingly. We must ensure that organisers of commercial events meet the full cost of policing them in line with the MPA Special Services Agreement. Officers should not be used to resource commercial events to the detriment of our communities.”

Other items on the agenda include:

• Road fatalities and seriously injured;
• Provisional grant settlement 2008/09 – 2010/11;
• Public Order Review update; and
• Operation Recover.

Commissioner Sir Ian Blair will give an update on operational policing issues in London and present a written performance report. Please note: the Commissioner's update will take place as near to 12:00 as possible, discussion permitting.

Notes to editors

1. Although not on the agenda for the December Full Authority, the current pay settlement for police officers in England and Wales will be raised by the Chair of the MPA, Len Duvall

2. The committee papers for this Authority meeting can be found at:
www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2007/071220/default.htm

3. The Co-ordination and Policing committee meeting held on July 19 2004 the MPA agreed a policy on charging for commercial events. The policy was introduced as the Authority was concerned about costs of policing of events and the consequential impact on other policing priorities due to abstraction of resources. The policy can be found at
www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/cop/2004/040719/05.htm

4. Details of the Special Services Agreement can be found at
www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/f/2002/020711/15.htm

5. Confidential anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 321

6. Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office