Agenda item

Report of the Commissioner.

Members considered a report of the Commissioner regarding COVID-19 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs).

·         The Chair noted that the figure on FPNs given at the Court of Common Council meeting in early September 2020 was different, in the number of FPNs issued had been revised down to 19. However since the report had been produced a further 8 FPNs had been issued during Extinction Rebellion protests in the City, all to white males. In total this meant 27 FPNs had been issued.

·         A Member requested that the way in which data was presented be reviewed. It was not clear to him whether the data referred to Force officers, but acting wider than the City area. A more detailed breakdown on officer-based and geographical-based data would be welcome.

·         A Member welcomed the data, noting that it showed interesting patterns emerging. Specifically it appeared that outside of the City it was more likely for BAME persons to be issued fines, and the Member queried why this was the case. Moreover if both fines and warning figures were combined that BAME were typically given fines whereas older white persons typically received a warning. It would be interesting to have some context on why this might be the case.

·         The Assistant Commissioner replied that the demographics of fines and warnings reflected areas of London where the Force was typically deployed in support of partners. For example the boroughs surrounding the City were very diverse and it was therefore more likely to encounter BAME persons. On the issue of fines versus warnings, each encounter with a member of the public was a clear phased process commencing with a request for compliance, with progression through the phases dependent on how the individual reacted.

·         A Member queried whether interactions with younger BAME persons were escalating in such a way that prompted fines being issued and noted that the Force and Authority needed to reflect on why this might be the case.

·         The Assistant Commissioner noted that there was work ongoing in both the Force, Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police on how Forces engaged and educated the various communities they encountered. The Assistant Commissioner was confident that the Force’s approach to COVID FPNs was proportionate.

·         In response to a question, the Assistant Commissioner confirmed that the COVID FPNs issued during Extinction Rebellion protests in the City were due to breach of COVID guidelines, and not to counter the individuals’ right to protest.

·         The Chair highlighted the National Police Chiefs’ Council report Policing the Pandemic and suggested that the Town Clerk circulate it to Members outside of the meeting. The report confirmed a disparity in the issuing of FPNs to BAME persons compared to other ethnic groups, although NPCC statistics were compiled differently to Force statistics.

·         In response to a question the Assistant Commissioner confirmed that Body Worn Video (BWV) was used during encounters that could lead to the issuing of a COVID FPN or warning. The BWV of Force officers recorded passively and therefore captured the prior 30 seconds to any occasion when the officer commenced recording an encounter.

·         In response to a question, the Deputy Head of the Police Authority Team confirmed that the 8 COVID FPNs issued recently were the only FPNs issued since the figures detailed within the report on the agenda, which dated to May 2020.

RESOLVED, that the report be received.