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AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY held at The Castle,
Winchester on Tuesday 18 July, 2000
PRESENT:
Councillor R.A. Culver (Chairman); Mrs. R. Atkinson; Mr. M.J.
Attenborough-Cox; Mrs. C. Barratt; Councillor Capt. M.P.R. Boyle DL; Dr. A.C.
Chitnis; Councillor A.P. Collett; Councillor J. Fazackarley; Councillor D.
Gillett; Mrs. J. Griffin JP; Mr. R.J. Gully; Councillor S.A. Hayes;
Councillor P.A. Heath; Mr. G.M. King BEM JP; Mr. M.B. Knott JP; Councillor
Mrs. J. Rayment; Councillor Mrs. L.E. Rogerson.
Also present: Mr. P.C.B. Robertson (Clerk); Mr. P. Kernaghan (Chief
Constable); Mr. I.R. Readhead (Deputy Chief Constable); Mr. J.C. Pittam
(Treasurer); Mr. P. Jacobs (Assistant Chief Constable) (Territorial); Mr. C.
Smith (Assistant Chief Constable) (Operations); Mr. M. Coombes (Director of
Finance); Mrs. M. Adamson (Director of Personnel); Chief Supt. G. Stogdon
(Corporate Services); Ms. P. Holt (Personnel Department); Mr. K. Briscoe
(Media Services); Ms. S. Hunt (Corporate Services); Miss S. Jackson (Clerk's
Office).
375 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Authority held on 6 June, 2000 were
confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
376 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
(a) Attestations
The Chairman reminded Members of the standing invitation from the Chief
Constable to attend attestation ceremonies for both regular and special
police constables. He indicated that these dates were normally circulated
far in advance of the actual ceremonies taking place and that he had asked
the Clerk to re-circulate these dates to Members two weeks in advance of each
ceremony.
(b) Medal Ceremonies
The Chairman reported that the Chief Constable had issued an invitation to
Members to attend Awards Ceremonies as observers and that the Clerk would
circulate the dates of these events in due course.
(c) Appointment of ACPO Rank Officers
The Chairman reported that he was currently discussing with the Chief
Constable how the Authority might be involved in the future when appointing
to one of two ACPO civilian posts in his staffing establishment, namely the
Director of Finance and the Director of Personnel.
(d) Appeals
The Chairman reported that he was currently discussing with the Chief
Constable an appeals process for support staff which would permit a right of
appeal to the Authority.
(e) Police and Community Liaison Groups
The Chairman reported that, following consultation with the Chairman of the
Community Affairs Steering Group and the Clerk's office, Members would be
issued with a revised list of representation on Police and Community Liaison
Groups which aligned with Members' representation on Crime and Disorder
Partnership Groups.
(f) Officers Dying in Service
The Chairman reported that he had asked the Chief Constable to notify him in
the sad event that a police officer or member of the civilian staff died in
service in order that a Member of the Authority might be given the
opportunity to attend the funeral, if appropriate.
(g) Christmas Cards
The Chairman indicated that he had asked the Clerk to investigate alternative
designs of Christmas card for this year.
(h) The Black Police Officers Association
The Chairman thanked those Members of the Authority who had attended the
recent launch of the Black Police Officers Association and indicated that he
would meet the Chairman of the Association on a regular basis in the future.
377 NOTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS STEERING GROUP
RESOLVED:
The Notes of the meeting of the Community Affairs Steering Group held
on 9 June be received (Item 3 in the Minute Book).
378 MINUTES OF THE CRIME PREVENTION PANEL
RESOLVED:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Crime Prevention Panel held on
25 May, 2000 be received and that the Panel be asked to urge the attendance
of its co-opted Members at future meetings (Item 4 in the Minute Book).
379 MINUTES OF THE BEST VALUE AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PANEL
RESOLVED:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Best Value and Performance
Management Panel held on 10 July, 2000 be received, and where necessary,
adopted (Item 5 in the Minute Book).
380 MINUTES OF THE FINANCIAL AFFAIRS PANEL
RESOLVED:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Financial Affairs Panel held on
12 July, 2000 be received (Item 6 in the Minute Book).
381 TREASURY MANAGEMENT
The Authority considered a report of the Treasurer (Item 7 in the
Minute Book) on the exercise of the Treasury function.
The Treasurer indicated that, in future, this report would be
submitted to the Financial Affairs Panel for consideration.
RESOLVED:
That the exercise of treasury management in 1999/00 be approved.
382 CHAIRMEN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN OF PANELS AND APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE
BODIES
The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 8 in the Minute
Book) confirming the appointment of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Panels and
the appointment of Members to certain outside bodies.
RESOLVED:
(a) That Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen be appointed to the following Panels
as indicated until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2001:-
(i) Best Value and Performance Management Panel
Chairman - Councillor S.A. Hayes
Vice-Chairman - Mr. M.J. Attenborough-Cox
(ii) Chief Officer Appointment Panel
Chairman - Councillor R.A. Culver
(iii) Community Affairs Steering Group
Chairman - Mr. R.J. Gully
Vice-Chairman - Mrs. J. Griffin JP
(iv) Complaints Panel
Chairman - Mrs. C.C. Barratt
Vice-Chairman - Councillor R.A. Culver
(v) Crime Prevention Panel
Chairman - Mrs. J. Griffin JP
Vice-Chairman - Councillor Mrs. L.E. Rogerson
(vi) Financial Affairs Panel
Chairman - Mr. M.J. Attenborough-Cox
Vice-Chairman - Mr. M.B. Knott JP
(vii) Personnel Panel
Chairman - Mr. G.M. King JP
Vice-Chairman - Dr. A.C. Chitnis
(b) That appointments to fill vacancies on the Gosport and Havant Crime
and Disorder Community Partnerships be deferred pending the revision of the
Authority's representation on its Police and Community Liaison Groups and
Crime and Disorder Partnerships.
(c) That Mr. M.B. Knott JP, with Mr. G.M. King JP as deputy, be appointed
to serve on the Constabulary's Service Delivery Equality Steering Group.
(d) That Councillor Mrs. L.E. Rogerson be appointed to serve on the
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Domestic Violence Forum.
383 HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 1999/00
The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 9 in the Minute
Book) on the Police Authority's Annual Report for 1999/00, a draft copy of
which was circulated at the meeting.
Members noted that a more appropriate photograph would be used for the
item on the Special Constabulary.
RESOLVED:
That the Annual Report be approved for publication and circulation.
384 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 10 in
the Minute Book) which outlined the processes and training to meet the
requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights within the Hampshire
Constabulary. The programme had been prepared in accordance with guidance of
the Association of Chief Police Officers which was leading on the national
implementation of the Convention.
Members noted that a Strategic Policy Board, under the Chairmanship of
the Deputy Chief Constable, had been created to oversee the work of an
Implementation Team comprising of representatives from all main business
areas. In this respect, the Authority was invited to appoint a Member to act
as a liaison point for the implementation programme. In addition, the
Authority considered that it would be helpful for Members to attend one of
the training events which would take place in August, September and October
with residual training in November. Accordingly, the Chief Constable, in
consultation with the Clerk, undertook to inform Members of the dates of
training sessions in due course. It was also noted that the Association of
Police Authorities would also be arranging further training on Human Rights
issues on dates to be determined.
RESOLVED:
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(a) That the preparations underway in the Hampshire Constabulary for the
implementation of the European Convention of Human Rights be endorsed.
(b) That Mr. M.B. Knott JP, with Mrs. R. Atkinson as deputy, be appointed
as the Authority's liaison for the implementation programme.
385 POLICE OFFICER RECRUITMENT
The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 11 in
the Minute Book) which gave an overview of efforts being undertaken with
regard to the recruitment of police officers.
Members noted that the total requirement for the appointment of new
police officers in 2000/01 was 287 including a shortfall of 40 officers at
the beginning of the year, 165 police officers expected to retire or leave in
the year, and the additional 82 officers to be appointed under the terms of
the Challenge Fund.
The Authority discussed the current recruitment difficulties in detail
and had regard to the comments of the Director of Personnel concerning the
types of advertising and general publicity which had been undertaken by the
Force in an effort to reach its recruitment target. In addition, Members
noted that this issue had also been considered at length by the Personnel
Panel. In considering ways in which the additional police offers might be
recruited, Members noted that a national advertising campaign would commence
in the late Summer/early Autumn period and would include national and local
press, television, radio, cinema and leaflets. Its aim was to enhance the
reputation of the police service as a career and to attract recruits. The
Authority acknowledged that the Force was working extremely hard to recruit
police officers in the current climate which was not helped by the recent pay
increase to the Metropolitan Police Force which had put neighbouring Forces,
including Hampshire, at a disadvantage. This particular point and others
relating to the starting salary for police officers, which was acknowledged
to be less attractive than those offered by other employers in the area, was
being pressed strongly with the Home Office. Members supported this course
of action and agreed that starting salaries would need to be addressed as a
matter of urgency if the situation with regard to recruitment was to improve.
Members also offered to distribute any relevant literature through
meetings of the Police and Community Liaison Groups in order to help raise
the profile of the police service as a career. In conclusion, Members asked
the Chief Constable to submit an update report to the next meeting of the
Authority in order to monitor progress against the usual recruitment target
and the enhanced figure.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the recruitment efforts be acknowledged and the report to be
noted.
(b) That an update report be submitted to the next meeting of the
Authority.
386 FINGERPRINT BUREAU - CONTRIBUTION TO THE COST OF HIGHWAY WORKS
The Authority considered a report of the Clerk and the Chief Constable
(Item 12 in the Minute Book) which updated Members regarding contributions to
the cost of highway works and set out clearly the basis for making such
contributions.
Members noted that highways contributions were usually required as a
condition precedent to the grant of a planning permission and that such costs
were normally factored into capital schemes and disposals.
RESOLVED:
That it be noted that payments towards the cost of highway works are a
feature of new developments and disposals where an intensification of traffic
movements is the likely result and that these costs will normally be factored
into the capital costs of development or disposal.
387 POLICE AND COMMUNITY LIAISON GROUPS
The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 13 in the Minute
Book) which attached summary sheets of meetings of Police and Community
Liaison Groups received since the last meeting of the Authority. In
addition, the report gave an update on the reorganisation of certain PCLGs
following the realignment of some policing divisional boundaries from 1
April, 2000 to reflect local authority boundaries (where possible).
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted.
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CONFERENCES
(a) Association of Police Authorities (APA) Seminar in Association with
PITO - 20/6/00
The Authority received a paper (Item 14(a) in the Minute Book) prepared by
Mr. M.J. Attenborough-Cox who had attended an APA Seminar in association with
PITO, together with the Director of IT, Mr. N. Howell, on Information
Management. Members noted that the Clerk would be arranging a seminar in
October on Hampshire's IT strategy, timetable and indicative costs, followed
by a presentation from PITO's Police Systems Directorate.
(b) Association of Police Authorities - AGM - 21/6/00
The Authority received a paper (Item 14(b) in the Minute Book) prepared by
Mr. M.B. Knott JP on his attendance, with the Chairman, at the Annual General
Meeting of the Association of Police Authorities held in London on 21 June,
2000.
(c) Domestic Awareness Seminar - 29/6/00
Members received a paper (Item 14(c) in the Minute Book) prepared by Mr. M.B.
Knott JP on his attendance, together with 9 other Members of the Authority,
at a Domestic Awareness Seminar held at Netley on 29 June, 2000. The paper
highlighted the point that it appeared to Members that there was no
structured training course for those selected to undertake domestic violence
work either at the outset or during their tenure and that this had health and
safety implications in terms of both stress management as well as physical
safety. On this particular, the Chief Constable undertook to look into the
matter and respond to Mr. Knott accordingly.
(d) ACPO Summer Conference - 4-6/7/00
Members received a paper (Item 14(d) in the Minute Book) prepared by
Councillor S. Hayes on his attendance, together with four other Members of
the Authority at the ACPO Summer Conference held in Torquay from 4 to 6 July,
2000.
(e) Association of Police Authorities/Home Office Conference and ACPO
Exhibition - NEC, Birmingham - 10-12/10/00
RESOLVED:
That Mr. M.J. Attenborough-Cox, Councillor D. Gillett, Mr. R.J. Gully and Mr.
G.M. King JP be appointed to attend the above conference and that their
conference expenses by met by the Authority.
(f) Reassuring Rural Communities - The Challenge - Association of Police
Authorities Local Government Association Conference, Peterborough on 31/10/00
RESOLVED:
That Councillor R.A. Culver, Mrs. J. Griffin JP and Councillor S. Hayes be
appointed to attend the above conference and that their conference expenses
be met by the Authority.
389 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That by virtue of the Paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 12A of the
Local Government Act 1972 as set out below, the press and public be excluded
from the meeting.
Minute 390 - Paragraphs 8 and 9
Minute 391 - Paragraph 1
390 GLIDEWELL IMPLEMENTATION
The Authority considered a confidential report of the Chief Constable
(Item 16 in the Minute Book) summarising the response of the Hampshire
Constabulary and Crown Prosecution Service to the recommendations arising
from the Glidewell report "A Review of the Crown Prosecution Service".
Members noted that this process would build upon the progress already
made within the Narey implementation which commenced in November last year
and would effectively put the CPS presence within police stations on a
permanent footing. There would be five Glidewell Criminal Justice Units
where police and CPS staff would operate as a joint administrative unit on
police sites. These units would be at Aldershot, Basingstoke, Southampton,
Portsmouth and Newport and would deal with all lower court cases, including
trials. There would also be four Trials Units based within CPS estate on the
mainland, and in Langley Court on the Isle of Wight and these would deal with
all higher court case preparation.
Members noted that the plan for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight would
achieve all of the core principles of Glidewell and result in full
collocation of Police and CPS staff in joint administrative units. This was
acknowledged to be one of the most ambitious, imaginative and innovative
plans submitted with a timescale that would place Hampshire at the very
forefront of these important changes within the Criminal Justice System.
Mr. Roger Daw, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Hampshire and the Isle of
Wight, attended the meeting and gave the CPS perspective on the arrangements.
Mr. Daw supported strongly the proposals which would bring benefits in
respect of improved working practices and deliver great improvements to the
current process.
Members, whilst welcoming the improvements, expressed concern about
the cost of implementing the measures for which no additional funding had
been forthcoming from the Government. The Chief Constable endorsed that view
and informed the Authority that this had been raised with the Home Office.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Glidewell Implementation Plan be approved.
(b) That a new capital budget of £677,000 in 2000/01 be agreed, to be
financed by the slippage to future years of existing Capital Programme
Schemes relating to HMS Daedalus and Land at the Isle of Wight.
(c) That the release of £200,000 from within the 2000/01 Capital Programme
item "Building Improvements - Review of Office Accommodation" to fund the set
up costs of the Northern Major Incident Room be approved.
(d) That the estimated net additional running costs of implementing
Glidewell of £47,500 be met from within the £1.274m "cashable" efficiency
savings to be generated in the current financial year.
(e) That a further report be submitted to the Authority in January, 2001
to update Members on progress made.
391 FORFEITURE OF PENSION - POLICE PENSIONS REGULATIONS 1987
The Authority considered a confidential report of the Chief Constable,
the Clerk and the Treasurer (Item 17 in the Minute Book) which sought consent
to an application being made to the Home Secretary under Regulation K5 of the
Police Pensions Regulations 1987, concerning forfeiture of pension. This
regulation permitted the Authority to seek a certificate which would allow it
to consider the extent to which the former police officer named in the
report, who had been convicted of a serious offence, should forfeit pension
entitlement.
Members gave careful consideration to the report and had regard to the
principle of requiring the officer to forfeit pension entitlement when that
officer had already been punished by imprisonment following conviction.
However, the Authority noted that the reputation of the Police service and,
in particular, the reputation of the Hampshire Constabulary had been brought
into disrepute which was likely to have an effect on public confidence in the
police.
In conclusion, Members agreed that, in the first instance, the
certificate should be sought from the Home Secretary and that, thereafter,
the Financial Affairs Panel would be guided by the Home Secretary and the
Police Pensions Regulations 1987 with regard to the issue of forfeiture,
provided that such certificate was awarded.
RESOLVED:
(a) That an application be made to the Home Secretary for a certificate to
be issued under Regulation K5 of the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 in
respect of the police officer named in the report on the grounds that his
conviction of an offence of perverting the course of justice in connection
with service as a member of a police force is considered to have led to a
serious loss of confidence in the police service and involved the abuse of
the office of a constable.
(b) That, if the application is successful, the issue of forfeiture of
pension be referred to the Financial Affairs Panel for decision.
4fM53800
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