• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I think your reference to Bexley highlights the concern that has been expressed earlier in discussion about perhaps the need to broaden the terms of the enquiry that Graham's project group is undertaking so that we can have an assurance for people that adequate resources will be made available for territorial policing and, are you perhaps aware, that the confidence of people in Bexley in this review has not exactly been helped by the fact that that meeting we had took place in November, as you will be aware, there having been a petition of some 37,000 residents of Bexley...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I think we would all agree, certainly the last couple of speakers, that the problem with the resource allocation formula is that it is biased against outer London boroughs. In particular, it does not take into account the sort of problems that we have in substantial town centres like Bromley, like Croydon and of course like Romford. I wonder, Mr Chairman, if you would accept an invitation to join me on a Saturday evening around Romford town centre to see first-hand the sort of problems which our very stretched police force have to cope with so that you may better...

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I am just a little concerned as to how effective - whilst I accept the good intentions of the initial round of consultations - as to how effective it will be. I certainly have not received any questionnaire. I am not aware of the leader of Bexley council, for example, who has had quite a lot of correspondence as you know, having received it. Would you agree that the changing nature of many outer London boroughs, for example, witnessed by an increase in street crime in Bromley by 38% over the last 12 months, means that there is an increasing...

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I hope your particular brand of ironic wit will not exacerbate any concerns of those who lose out from the formula when it comes about. As regards the formula itself, would there be a particular value in including one particular element of the formula which could be regarded as being predictive in terms of demands upon the police service, and that is to look at the different demographic shares that different boroughs have in numbers of young people within that population? Would that be a useful formula to consider within the resource allocation formula?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I'd like to turn Jenny's question round the other way, I suppose, and ask you whether on balance you think Londoners would be happy if that information was destroyed or if that information was retained, because it might provide, if adequately and properly managed, useful intelligence that would assist us in managing future demonstrations. The substantive question on the back of that is whether, although the MPA is going to have a debate on this, you think there are grounds for a wider public debate on issues of this kind, because it's something that's been debated at length in Parliament...

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I am actually very concerned that this was a case of inappropriate policing. I think that, far from seeing a strategic mastermind at work behind the protest, we actually saw those protestors walk into a police trap like kittens to a bowl of milk. The fact is we are possibly now, as a Police Authority, going to see a huge, a huge number of court cases against the Metropolitan Police that could cost us a huge amount of money. Do you really not think this is an issue that we as a Police Authority should be very concerned about?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I understand the wider framework. This question refers specifically to the May Day demonstrations and the information collected in that aspect. It wasn't a wide-ranging question; it was a very specific question. Am I to understand from the reply just given that that information will be kept for seven years and will people who are concerned that information about their personal details is kept in that way, will they be able to check with the MPS what information is held and question its accuracy if necessary?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

I am already on record as sharing in the general appreciation of the effective policing operation on 1 May, but do you agree that there is always a potential conflict between the requirements for effective policing and the protection of civil liberties, which he has just said he endorses? Do you share my concern that filming and collecting other personal information, whilst it may be judged necessary for effective policing, does raise important civil liberties issues? And that what happens to all that information collected in respect of people not charged, let alone convicted, is an important issue, which the...

• Question by: Sally Hamwee
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

Thank you. You mentioned that 465 had retired and say that you'll be talking to the Home Secretary. Can we ask that that discussion is held quickly and very energetically. For instance, to allow officers who've completed their 30 years' service to continue on a part-time basis.

• Question by: Louise Bloom
• Meeting date: 01 January 2001

Perhaps would you also like to comment on press reports that the director of the civil rights group Liberty, on behalf of 150 people who were held penned up in Oxford Street is possibly going to demand a judicial review of police tactics used on the day and could possibly sue for false imprisonment and breaches of the Human Rights Act. I personally know somebody who was penned up in Oxford Street on that day, [laughter] yes, who was there protesting totally peaceably, was not dressed up as a Womble or anything else, not armed, had nothing about her person...