• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 12 December 2001

You've come onto the Police Complaints Authority, which is really a big issue because of its lack of power to enforce decisions. For example, whether to suspend an officer remains the decision of the police force in question. So its decisions lack teeth. As Chair, what can you do to ensure that the new Complaints Authority has real power to bring its recommendations into action?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 12 December 2001

I think the MPA is taking a very strategic lead in this issue and I welcome what you've said on all of the initiatives that we're taking forward. But there seems to be either a confusion or a feud, depending how you put it, between the MPA and the Mayor's office in terms of who should be carrying out investigation into the subject. The Mayor's office has claimed that the MPA is too closely involved to be genuinely independent and I wondered where you as Chair stood on this issue and what role you think the Mayor should have regarding...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 12 December 2001

Clearly, as Chair of the Authority, you are its public face and you have to defend its procedures and be very fastidious in the way in which you recognise the legal constraints under which it operates but is that not the essence of the problem? There is a lack of confidence amongst Londoners, particularly amongst young, black and Asian Londoners, that they will get fair treatment at the hands of the police, however well or ill-founded that might be. And that because the MPA has to be fastidious and procedural, there is a case - and I'm with Lee Jasper...

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 12 December 2001

You touched briefly, Toby, on the definitions of deaths in custody and the very broadness of that definition. The general public would regard custody as being in the care, protection and control of the police, yet when there's a death in custody that takes a far, far broader definition. Do you think that definition should be changed so that the police cease being pilloried for things which are often beyond their control and circumstances which are beyond their control? Secondly, do you think it appropriate that individual members of the MPA should make public statements or issue press releases or...

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 12 December 2001

Can you just tell us quickly what steps you've taken to get the judicial inquiry, that you actually have asked for and that Haringey has asked for and that the family wants; and secondly what about the coroner's report, why is it almost three years and no coroner's report?

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 12 December 2001

I was only putting it in context of the Sylvester family.

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 12 December 2001

Following on from talking about individual families, one of the families in my constituency is Roger Sylvester's whose death was was nearly three years ago now. I'd like you to tell me what conversations you've had with that family. I'm very aware that although the autopsy is completed, there's been no coroner's report and that their wish for an independent inquiry into what happened, as opposed to a police inquiry, has not yet been satisfied. So the first part is, what report you can give us on your discussions with the Sylvester family and also, do you agree with the...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 12 December 2001

Okay, thank you for that clarification. I agree. The last question is really going back to disclosure, which I think in terms of death in custody and the Police Complaints Authority is a big issue even with the new legislation that's going to come through, because the release of information can prejudice an inquiry. But victims' families are kept in the dark so much more than is necessary that it casts a shadow over any finding at any point and actually can damage the police just as much as the victims. So, what means do you as Chair think can...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 23 May 2001

On the same subject, of consultation, your relationship - or TfL's relationship - with the London borough of Redbridge cannot be very good at the moment. In Wanstead, work is outstanding on the upgrade to the A12, which the Highways Agency agreed to pay for before Transport for London took over responsibility for it. Transport for London has now reneged on the promise to pay the council to do that work. Is that something you will be able to pursue for us, to get us the money? Please do not tell us it is because the organisation has changed, because...

• Question by: Len Duvall OBE
• Meeting date: 23 May 2001

I welcome that response. This arose because Transport for London was not really consulting, although its job is to consult people - and not particularly about the major strategies, because that is quite good for us at this level. It is the real nuts and bolts, and issues about buses. Until yesterday, I had been approached to say that they are undertaking that issue. But Ken, what went wrong on the A2 with the weak bridge at New Cross Gate, where street management failed to consult the relevant agencies, which has caused all sorts of disruption and could have been...