Publication from Siân Berry: Response to MOPAC/Met draft Public Access and Engagement

This is my response to the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) draft Public Access and Engagement Strategy, published in July 2017. Consultation on the draft strategy opened on 14 July 2017 and ends on 6 October 2017.



I echo many of the concerns submitted by the Chair of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee (PCC), and I particularly share the views expressed in that response about the quality and promotion of the consultation itself.



Local meetings were arranged at very short notice in many areas, and I don’t believe the implications of this proposal have reached many of the people who are most affected.



This includes those without English as their first language and people with accessibility problems. The draft Equality Impact Assessment notes that there may be a larger impact on these Londoners, and yet I cannot see evidence that efforts have been made to reach these people for their views on the changes.



I support the recommendation of the PCC that dedicated ward officers must have support in choosing accessible locations for the more flexible ‘contact sessions’ they are being asked to arrange in local areas. I also agree that a more detailed assessment of how provision for people with language needs will be made is needed before these plans go ahead.