Grant Funding Acceptance and Award – Police Care UK

This paper seeks approval for the acceptance of grant funding from Police Care UK a charity for serving and veteran police officers and staff, volunteers, and their families who have suffered any physical or psychological harm as a result of policing. The proposed grant funding is £136,144 over three years and is focussed on the Specialist Firearms Command. The paper also seeks the award of a grant from this funding to Liverpool University for a research project in the sum of £44,000.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:

1. Approve the acceptance of a 3-year grant totalling £136,144 from Police Care UK to fund mental health and wellbeing initiatives for the officers within the Specialist Firearms Command.

2. To approve the award of a grant of £44,000 to a PHD Researcher to conduct research into Post Traumatic Embitterment Disorder.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. This papers seeks the authority to accept grant funding from Police Care UK and from this funding award a grant to Liverpool University for a research project.

1.2. The grant funding and projects are specific to the MO19 - Specialist Firearms Command.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) note that the Mayor of London stated in the MOPAC Police & Crime Plan 2017-2012 that ‘The safety of all Londoners was his first priority’. Officers from MO19 play a vital role in protecting London from some of the most violent criminals. Ensuring the wellbeing and mental health of these officers will enable them to effectively continue to protect London.

2.2. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) propose that the funding will be used for

• Kit and Equipment to support the injury prevention; physical training instruction (PTI) – enhanced clinics for officers £18k

• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training £24k

• Well-being Seminars £26k

• Research into Post Traumatic Embitterment Disorder (PTED). The Police Care Grant requires an element of research that will benefit police colleagues on a wider basis than the recipient of the money. This will fund research at Liverpool University - £44k

• Information dissemination £9k

• Op Milo: Leadership development £24k. Op Milo is the MO19 Health and well-being plan

2.3. MPS confirm that these proposals do not conflict with MPS policy or existing Occupational Health services

3. Financial Comments

3.1. The gross cost of the proposed projects is £145k. This will be funded by the Police Care UK grant of £136k and from within the existing MPS budget.

3.2. The Police Care UK funding will be received over a three year period.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. In relation to the receipt of grant monies, under Section 93 of the Police Act 1996, MOPAC may “may, in connection with the discharge of any of its functions, accept gifts of money, and gifts or loans of other property, on such terms as appear to [MOPAC] to be appropriate”.

4.2. In relation to the onward grant to support PhD research concerning the welfare of officers, MOPAC’s general powers are set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). Section 3 (6) of the 2011 Act provides that MOPAC must “secure the maintenance of the metropolitan police service and secure that the metropolitan police service is efficient and effective.” Under Schedule 3, paragraph 7 (1) MOPAC has incidental powers to “do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of the Office.” Paragraph 7 (2) (a) provides that this includes entering into contracts and other agreements.

4.3. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve all bids for grant funding.

4.4. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve he strategy for the award of individual grants and/ or the award of all individual grants whether to secure or contribute to securing crime reduction in London or for other purposes

5. GDPR and Data Privacy

5.1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.

5.2. The MPS has confirmed that the project does not use personally identifiable data of members of the public, so there are no GDPR issues to be considered

6. Equality Comments

6.1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

6.2. The MPS has assured that this funding will support an initiative that is aimed at helping every officer within MO19 (Specialist Firearms Command) including those with special characteristics.

7. Background/supporting papers

• Appendix 1 MPS Report Police Care UK Grant