HC Deb 28 October 1985 vol 84 cc339-41W
Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what form the presentation took which was made to him by the Metropolitan police about the proposed reorganisation of the force; what documents were provided in support of the presentation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

My right hon. and learned Friend, the then Home Secretary, met the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and a number of his senior officers on 31 October 1984 to discuss his plans for reorganising the Metropolitan police. A summary of the main features of the proposals was provided by the commissioner to those present at the meeting.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of Stare for the Home Department which organisations or individuals the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis consulted or took advice from during the construction of the basic plan for strategy 7B; what is the timetable for consulting public bodies on the implementation of strategy 7B, who will be consulted and to what extent the plans are open to modification; why the existing consultative committees were not consulted over the basic plan of strategy 7B; which Metropolitan police staff organisations were consulted over strategy 7B; on what date they were approached; and what was the substance of their representations.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that, before preparing his proposals he sought advice from some 34 outside organisations. e CThese included management consultants, educational establishments, Government Departments and commercial concerns. In addition, advice was sought from 13 police forces in the United Kingdom and eight overseas forces.

The commissioner began consultations with public bodies shortly after he had announced his outline proposals and these consultations will continue throughout 1986 as the reorganisation is implemented. This process will involve borough and district councils, community police consultative groups and other community representatives. The broad framework of the commissioner's plans have now been settled, but the consultations will cover the many detailed points arising from the reorganisation which have yet to be resolved. The emphasis of this consultation will be on ensuring that the reorganisation is tailored to meet local circumstances in the different parts of the Metropolitan police district.

I regret that it was not possible for the commissioner to consult consultative groups or others in advance of announcing his basic proposals. However, advance consultation on detailed plans would have caused damaging delay and uncertainty, with a consequent risk to efficiency and morale.

The commissioner informed the Metropolitan police staff associations of his proposals on 20 November 1984, the day on which they were announced publicly. Since then police staff associations and the civil staff trade union sides have been closely involved in all matters relating to the reorganisation.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of Stare for the Home Department if he met the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to discuss the basic plan contained in strategy 7B; and what representations he has received about strategy 7B.

Mr. Giles Shaw

My right hon. and learned Friend the then Home Secretary met the commissioner on 31 October 1984 to discuss in detail his plans for reorganising the management structure of the Metropolitan police.

Representations about the reorganisation have been made by a number of right hon. and hon. Members, and by 12 local bodies, including five community/police consultative groups. Among the points which have been raised are: consultation before the broad proposals were announced; their effect on community/police consultative arrangements; and the future of borough-based community liaison officers.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the rationale behind the proposed eight new areas under strategy 7B of the Metropolitan police. on what basis the boundaries were decided; who took the decision; whether any financial studies were conducted into the cost of strategy 7B prior to the publication of the commissioner's plans; and what studies have been done on the training implications of the implementation of strategy 7B.

Mr. Shaw

The area boundaries which were introduced on 23 September were fixed only after the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis had considered a wide variety of possible configurations. His decisions were based on principles which he considered important in determining the configuration of the new areas. These included the need to avoid altering divisional boundaries; to avoid dividing local authorities between areas; to balance different types of workload and provide variety on each area; to equalise workloads and the number of divisions between areas; and to achieve a workload structure that would enable effective control between headquarters and area, and area and divisions. The commissioner fully consulted my right hon. and learned Friend, the then Home Secretary, who agreed with the proposed area structure.

The commissioner has made it clear that the cost of the reorganisation will be contained within existing resources. One of its primary objectives is to ensure the most effective use of resources. Training requirements were carefully considered, and the necessary training has been taking place since the reorganisation was announced. This will continue as further needs are identified during the implementation phase.