Community Legitimacy Panel Minutes

Tuesday 18th January 2022

18:00 to 20:00 via Microsoft Teams

18:00 to 18:20 - Welcome, apologies and action log - Chair

The Chair wished to thank departing panel members for their time supporting the panel.

New members of the panel introduced themselves.

18:20 to 18:50 - 1. Updates:

i) Meetings held since Community Engagement Forum
Chair

The Chair and 2 panel members met with the Constabulary regarding an incident with a taser deployed on a young man and an officer pushing a member of the public. The videos were reviewed along with the body worn video of the officer who initiated contact with the gentleman. The officer statement was consistent with the body worn video camera.

Volunteers for the initiation of a sub group were invited, the process is supported by both the Constabulary and the Community Legitimacy Panel. It was noted that at this earlier stage a different perspective could be invaluable.

The Chair also met with the Constabulary regarding reviews of cases going forward. How we select cases to review was discussed. The Chair proposed a trial period of 6-12 months of a sub-committee of the CLP to review complaints whilst they are being investigated. This would enable a learning process to be undertaken for the CLP and Constabulary together before the complainant has a response.

Future review of cases would be further supported by the panel understanding the decision making factors.

ii) Community Legitimacy Panel involvement in Op Quail - ACC Rhiannon Kirk
Constabulary Response to Recent Murder

The panel discussed the tragic stabbing of the 15 year old boy near to Barton Street. For the first time in this kind of investigation the CLP was involved almost straight away. From a Gold Commander point of view this worked really well. A major crime investigation team was set up and included the CLP chair, IAG chair, partner agencies and youth support. The Gold groups ran weekly and then fortnightly over the Christmas period. A local facebook group around knife amnesties, “Put the Knives Down Gloucester” was established and an event was led. The Chair also let a community meeting which was also supported by the family. It was noted that this helped support the partner agencies, communities and the impact was extremely positive.

The Chair discussed how the older brother of the victims family attended the community meeting and felt very well supported. At the meeting a strong theme came through around responding to the needs of our young people to which a future meeting will be held to map out what support is available during mid to late February. A further meeting then hopes to be arranged with community leaders, MPs and the PCC.

It was added that there is work being conducted to understand the evidence base. Work commissioned by Safer Gloucestershire on Violence Prevent and Needs Assessment. The public health approach in this document focuses on violence and other relevant data around knife crime and weapons intervention that is Gloucester centric

It was discussed that St James’ church will be used a resource for young people. It was further reinforced that credit is due to the team at St James’ church as working with the community for what their needs are is key and should be built into a programme of work.

18:50 to 19:10 - 3. Review Questions - Chair

Re: Criteria/base checklist to look at complaints

Questions to use as a base checklist when looking at any future complaints:

1. Repeat complainant - Has the person made previous complaints for any reason?
2. Has the police officer had previous complaints of any nature made against them?
3. Were there repeated similar complaints made in the past?
4. What were the outcomes of the repeated similar complaints?
5. Were there learning points to implement from previous similar complaints?
6. Was the service of a standard that would be satisfied for you or a member of your family to receive?
7. Was the response appropriate in light of the current regulatory guidelines?

The review questions were discussed. An additional point was added to capture what the specific learning was and that what can be learnt from the exercise would be useful.

The Constabulary confirmed it would be good for this to be part of the initial discussions they will have. The IOPC and the CPS may need to provide a view and can be incorporated into the training being proposed for March.

At the end of a completed complaint by PSD, everyone has the option to have the outcome reviewed by the Independent Review Officer who is part of the PCCs staff - whether the outcome provided is reasonable and/or proportionate. Learning is something the IRO will look for also .This person is solely employed indepently to look at the outcomes.

It was confirmed that this is slightly different than the review of an outcome and will help to give a different perspective but a greater understanding whilst not necessarily changing the outcome of a complaint.

The panel queried if there an assurance that this learning has been embedded so as to not disengage people. Concerns as well as complaints should be considered for recording.

It was added that getting the perspective from members of the community will help and will also allow for that deeper understanding about our communities.

The panel discussed that learning differently is important and not a cliché. . E.g. the restorative conversation and the messaging can be received very differently depending on who is delivering it. Timeliness of complaint being dealt with should also be a consideration.

A panel member added that a related but separate point to add is was the police action / behaviour proportionate? Also the code of conduct expected to be seen, eg. Use of body worn video, bystanders and language used with holding to account on these standards. These definitions are to be determined.

19:10 to 19:20 - Break

19:20 to 19:50 - 4. Amendments to Terms of Reference (TOR) - Teddy Burton (Chair)

The Chair ran through the suggested amendments on the understanding that the TOR will be shared with the CLP two weeks prior to the next meeting with the aim of ratifying the TOR at the next meeting.

The Constabulary supports the amended TOR suggestions and asked if this could verbally be reminded of during the meeting as well as the beginning to reinforce the non disclosure of sensitive information.

1. At the beginning of the document there is reference to periodic review. By my reading This leaves it quite open for review at any time. Can I check that panel members can initiate a review?
2. How long is the terms of reference intended to take effect for? One year or until the next review?

It was agreed that the TOR to be reviewed annually and an edit to be triggered should the need arise

It was agreed that the CLP will now meet bi-monthly

There was a request on point 3.3 to clarify the ethnically diverse communities definition

It was further confirmed that the Race and Health Observatory did a survey and offers to send out the link stamped report and has been involved in some breakout groups which all agree looking at the context is key.

https://www.nhsrho.org/publications/nhs-race-health-observatory-terminology-consultation-report/ Please refer to page 5 and 10.

A panel member supports that ethnically diverse communities is enough of a definition for use in the TOR.

ACTION: If any panel members wish to profer a definition of ethnically diverse communities directly to the secretariat. The Chair to assimilate suggestions for ratification at next meeting.

19:50 to 20:00 - 6. AOB and Closing Remarks - Chair and Vice-Chair

i) Future meetings:

Meeting	Date	Time
Community Legitimacy Panel	Tuesday 18 January 2022	18:00 to 20:00
Community Legitimacy Panel	Tuesday 29 March 2022	18:00 to 20:00
Community Legitimacy Panel	Tuesday 31 May 2022	18:00 to 20:00
Community Engagement Forum	Thursday 30 June 2022	18:00 to 20:30
Community Legitimacy Panel	Tuesday 26 July 2022	18:00 to 20:00
Community Legitimacy Panel	Tuesday 20 September 2022	18:00 to 20:00
Community Legitimacy Panel	Tuesday 22 November 2022	18:00 to 20:00
Community Engagement Forum	Thursday 8 December 2022	18:00 to 20:30

The Chair discussed that the historic community events such as the sports day were hugely beneficial in the community. This was supported by the CLP.

ACTION: Any members of the CLP to advise the secretariat if they would wish to be part of a planning sub-committee to arrange this kind of event in June, Covid restrictions allowing.

Race and Inclusion Strategy – request from the Chief to discuss this and how a local stance to be explored with assistance from the CLP would be welcomed. Agenda time requested at March or May meeting to discuss this further for an informed discussion and debate. The Chair confirmed that this would be very important to have CLP involvement in this matter.

A panel member asked when the output will be circulated from the Community Engagement Forum. The key discussion points and actions as well as submitted questions that were not answered on the evening a being identified. The document will then outline the way forward and how the panel intends to hold the police to account on any promises made.

A panel member discussed the Allyship and Race Event being facilitated on 2 February and thanked the members of the panel who are being involved.

Meeting close

Download these minutes as a PDF

Please note that this file may not be suitable for users of assistive technologies.