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Met police shakeup of gang violence panel 'is backwards step' on race Met police shakeup of gang violence panel 'is backwards step' on race
(35 minutes later)
The chair of an independent group advising Scotland Yard on gang and gun crime claims she has been removed from the panel for being critical of police chiefs, warning the move is a "backward step" for race relations in London.The chair of an independent group advising Scotland Yard on gang and gun crime claims she has been removed from the panel for being critical of police chiefs, warning the move is a "backward step" for race relations in London.
The Met says it is changing the independent advisory group (IAG) for its Trident unit, which tackles gun and gang crime in the capital, to make it more representative of the community. The Met says it is changing the independent advisory group (IAG) for its Trident unit, which tackles gun and gang crime in the capital, to make it more representative of the community. But its long-serving independent chair, Claudia Webbe, says the force has taken more control of the group and will chair it, adding that some new members hail from groups with police contracts.
But its long-serving independent chair, Claudia Webbe, says the force has taken more control of the group and will chair it, adding that some new members come from groups with contracts from the police. The IAG aims to bring together the police and community. Webbe, who wss a founding member, said the Met's decision, made on Wednesday, led to her removal as chair, with the IAG members having their access to New Scotland Yard revoked.
The IAG aims to bring together the police and community and Webbe was a founding member. She said the Met's decision, made on Wednesday, led to her removal as chair, with the IAG members having their access to New Scotland Yard revoked.
Webbe said many issues had caused friction between the Met and the IAG, including:Webbe said many issues had caused friction between the Met and the IAG, including:
• A failure to consult the IAG over an increase in the number of officers issued with Tasers • a failure to consult the IAG over an increase in the number of officers issued with Tasers
• A failure to consult the IAG over last year's expansion of Trident to include youth and gang violence • a failure to consult the IAG over last year's expansion of Trident to include youth and gang violence
• A failure to raise numbers of black or ethnic minority officers in Trident's command • a failure to raise numbers of black or ethnic minority officers in Trident's command
• A failure to account for the police shooting of Mark Duggan, which sparked the 2011 riots across England • and a failure to account for the police shooting of Mark Duggan, which prompted the 2011 riots across England
Webbe said: "Instead of independent challenge of its operations, the MPS has sought to handpick individuals from organisations that it contracts with to deliver work on tackling gangs (ie St Giles Trust, Capital Conflict Management) and to chair meetings with this new group itself, thus removing all notion of independence."Webbe said: "Instead of independent challenge of its operations, the MPS has sought to handpick individuals from organisations that it contracts with to deliver work on tackling gangs (ie St Giles Trust, Capital Conflict Management) and to chair meetings with this new group itself, thus removing all notion of independence."
Webbe said the Trident IAG had its roots in the communities blighted by gun violence and by challenging officers, had helped bring the police and communities closer together. This in turn boosted community confidence in the Met and generated information about gun criminals.Webbe said the Trident IAG had its roots in the communities blighted by gun violence and by challenging officers, had helped bring the police and communities closer together. This in turn boosted community confidence in the Met and generated information about gun criminals.
Webbe told the Guardian: "It's definitely a backwards step on race. The Met is choosing who holds them to account. By chairing the group they get to direct the debate.Webbe told the Guardian: "It's definitely a backwards step on race. The Met is choosing who holds them to account. By chairing the group they get to direct the debate.
"The Trident IAG came from the community, they had had enough, and they challenged and changed the police.""The Trident IAG came from the community, they had had enough, and they challenged and changed the police."
Webbe warned of the dangers of Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe's more muscular 'total policing' approach: "With the emphasis on 'total policing' what will be trampled on is community sensitivities and sensibilities." Webbe warned of the dangers of Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe's more muscular "total policing" approach: "With the emphasis on 'total policing' what will be trampled on is community sensitivities and sensibilities."
The Trident IAG was formed in 1998 amid claims police were doing too little to tackle gun crime in communities where they were mistrusted and with whom they did not consult. The IAG model was copied in other areas of policing as the Met responded to the damning 1999 Macpherson report on its failures in the Stephen Lawrence case.The Trident IAG was formed in 1998 amid claims police were doing too little to tackle gun crime in communities where they were mistrusted and with whom they did not consult. The IAG model was copied in other areas of policing as the Met responded to the damning 1999 Macpherson report on its failures in the Stephen Lawrence case.
In a statement the Met said: "Community engagement remains at the core of Trident and as such our IAG continues to play a fundamental part in how we engage with London's communities. Since the new command was launched in February 2012, it has become clear that our IAG needed to be more representative of the communities that we serve." In a statement, the Met said: "Community engagement remains at the core of Trident and as such our IAG continues to play a fundamental part in how we engage with London's communities. Since the new command was launched in February 2012, it has become clear that our IAG needed to be more representative of the communities that we serve."
The Met says the new IAG, which it will chair temporarily, will have members from 18 London boroughs and "from the St Giles Trust, the Princes Trust and various youth, faith and community groups from across the capital." The Met says the new IAG, which it will chair temporarily, will have members from 18 London boroughs and "from the St Giles Trust, the Princes Trust and various youth, faith and community groups from across the capital".
Trident is headed by Detective Chief Superintendent Dean Haydon, who was staff officer to former assistant commissioner John Yates. Yates resigned in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.Trident is headed by Detective Chief Superintendent Dean Haydon, who was staff officer to former assistant commissioner John Yates. Yates resigned in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.
The row comes amid concerns over the police's progress in making their workforce less white and more representative of the communities they serve. This morning the Met celebrated the first year of the new expanded Trident gang command by issuing new figures that it says show significant successes. The row comes amid concerns over the police's progress in making its workforce less white and more representative of the communities they serve. On Thursday, the Met celebrated the first year of the new expanded Trident gang command by issuing new figures that it claims show significant successes.
The Met said serious youth violence was down 28%, and that the number of 'top 2,000' most harmful gang members that were now behind bars had doubled to 561. The Met said serious youth violence was down 28%, and that the number of the "top 2,000" most harmful gang members that were now behind bars had doubled to 561.
Commander Steve Rodhouse said: "Our new approach is clearly working and we are now seeing reductions across all gang-related crime types. We know that to tackle gang crime effectively we need the assistance of London's communities – it is only with their help that we can bring offenders to justice and to protect young people."Commander Steve Rodhouse said: "Our new approach is clearly working and we are now seeing reductions across all gang-related crime types. We know that to tackle gang crime effectively we need the assistance of London's communities – it is only with their help that we can bring offenders to justice and to protect young people."
Jenny Jones, a Green party member of the London Assembly, criticised the move: "This is another nail in the coffin of Met accountability. The reason Trident was so successful was that it came from the community and had their confidence and support. The decision to disband this independent group feels like the Met trying to shield itself from challenging views." Jenny Jones, a Green party member of the London Assembly, also criticised the move: "This is another nail in the coffin of Met accountability. The reason Trident was so successful was that it came from the community and had their confidence and support. The decision to disband this independent group feels like the Met trying to shield itself from challenging views."