Category Archives: Blog

DNA testing

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Off to Sidcup in Kent for a briefing from the Senior Met Detective in charge of Operation Minstead. In short, this is a police operation to catch a serial rapist of elderly women in South London. The crimes have been committed over the last 12 years and the police have the criminal’s DNA but have not been able to catch him.

My involvement in this case is to do with the so-called ‘voluntary’ collection of DNA to try to catch him. There is a cutting edge technique being used to genetically identify from DNA the genealogical origins of an individual.

In Minstead’s case this is a man between 25 and 40, black and from a particular area / island in the Caribbean. Using this information, the police narrowed down their ‘persons of interest’ from an original 20,000+ to 917 men. The police want to test all their DNA so they can eliminate them from their investigations. Now, not everyone was happy to be tested. If they refused they got a letter from the Met saying that a senior officer would look into the reasons for their refusal and let them know of their decision. If they still refused and there were enough grounds to arrest the refuseniks – they did. This resulted in five arrests – although two men changed their mind at the last moment.

I have a number of concerns around all of these issues. One is the change in legislation which allows the police to keep on record DNA from persons who are taken to a police station even if not arrested or anything. I am also concerned that the word ‘voluntary’ is meaningless as it is clear that what is actually happening – albeit carefully – is mandatory testing. If we’re going to have mandatory testing, there should be a proper debate – and a change in the law and rules – rather than it happening by the backdoor.

In fact a very, very senior Met Officer was talking to me about Minstead at a meeting and, when I voiced my concern over the grey area around what was ‘voluntary’, he said – “Oh voluntary is voluntary – until they say no.” No doubt he would say he was joking. Poor judgement I say.

Another key issue raised is the actual science of genetic identification in this way. It seems to me, following my time looking in detail at the use of stop and search by the police, that any of the mechanisms in the police force that are discretionary – like stop and search – can fall prey to discrimination.

This new science cannot be applied as yet to the white European population. The group is too big and the individual components are as yet unidentifiable. Thus this new forensic ‘miracle’ may have built-in discrimination. To be pursued.

Care homes in Haringey

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It’s Full Council meeting in Haringey. The main thing of note for me was a sycophantic question from a Labour councillor to the (Labour) Executive Member for Social Services asking her to congratulate herself on an ‘event’ for listening to older residents and what they want at the Ally Pally.

Sick making really – as this was the night before Labour would officially take the decision to close two of the last remaining residential care homes for the elderly that serve Haringey borough. They had tried to close them around four years ago and the campaign with relatives and residents had seen them off.

Haringey had promised then to use the money from the sale of another elderly home to fund the improvements that would be necessary to bring the two homes under threat up to new required standards.

Seemingly, Haringey couldn’t remember their promises. But we all did. The relatives of residents of the home were broken hearted and trying so hard to save them. Tomorrow night the curtain will fall. Even though there are deputations from relatives – I know Labour in Haringey. Whatever they may say about ‘choice’ in old age, they’ve already made the decision. Of course people want to remain independent as long as possible – but there does come a time for some when they need more care than can be given in their own homes.

By-election campaign trail

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Sadly, Cllr Barbara Fabian, one of our LibDem councillors from Fortis Green ward (Haringey Council) has just resigned due to ill health. She has had a real struggle with her health for some time and I am so sorry to see her go. She brought such experience and wisdom in her field of children and education and psychology. Whenever she spoke in council it was with substance. I am really sorry that she has had such difficulties.

So – off I go to deliver leaflets. The plus of a by-election (apart from hopefully winning) is losing half a stone in weigh and toning muscles. There is always a silver lining.

Memorial service for firefighters

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Memorial Service at Westminster Cathedral for the two firefighters who died saving lives in a house fire earlier this year. Sitting in the Cathedral and listening to the family readings and memories was heartbreaking. Looking around at the hundreds of firefighters there to pay their respects to their colleagues and brothers who died really brought home, not just the sense of family loss and tragedy, but the true bravery and the reality of that loss.

I know, as we all know, that this is a risk of the job – but with 10 years without loss and with all of the safety measures the modern fire service now employ – we have forgotten the harsh reality and the dangers that still exist when brave firefighters put saving our lives before theirs.

It was a very beautiful, very sad and moving service.

Later in the afternoon, I had a briefing by senior Met officers on C3i. This is the new call system which will begin its proper roll-out in the Met in November. It’s been worked on for years and cost a fortune – but – if it delivers what it is meant to deliver – it should all have been worth it.

The new system will integrate the thirty-two borough police control rooms into one system, along with other services such as the police’s incident support centres. There are lots of other changes involved too – including an interpretation service for people making 999 calls who have poor English.

The integration should make deploying police resources easier and more effective. There is a bit of concern from borough commanders about their staff being deployed in other boroughs as the system uses the nearest cars to attend. I am sure that will be worked out.

On a personal level, as lead member for response in the MPA – and having been banging on about the Met’s failure to answer local, non-urgent calls – I was particularly glad to see that lots of this ‘customer service’ aspect appears to have been taken on board.

There will be a pathway for local calls to end up with local police – and if there is no answer, that call will go back to the operator until an answer is found for the caller. It’s not what I would call a Rolls Royce customer service – but at least it is in there. So phoning those 132 police stations across London and plonking the results showing that around 40% never answered the phone does seem to have a possibly positive outcome. Hurrah!

Murders in Highgate

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Briefing by a senior Met officer on the double murder in Highgate and the other murders committed in London allegedly by the same person. Shocking events.

Holly Lodge estate – where the double murder of an middle-aged couple took place – is the ‘nicest’ type of street you can imagine. Impossible for neighbours and local residents to conceive of this tragedy.

Without going into details, it looks as if it all raises a whole raft of issues about mental health care. The Metropolitan Policy Authority (MPA) is to conduct a study in this area this year – not a moment too soon.

Parking in London – what are the Tories up to?

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First, an introductory meeting with the new chair we (the GLA) have appointed to the London Transport Users’ Committee. Then I receive official news (having had whispers for a few days) that the Tories will withdraw from the GLA’s planned investigation into parking across London unless it is made into a joint exercise with the Association of London Government.

The Parking Enforcement scrutiny has been welcomed by individuals, organisations and the media alike. Hailed as ‘brave’ for the Assembly to investigate boldly where no one appears to have gone thoroughly before – it is set to be of interest across the capital.

However, I noticed during the coverage last week that a couple of boroughs, notably Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster appeared very angry that the Assembly was daring to look into this. As these are Tory boroughs, I wonder whether they have been exerting pressure over the GLA Tory group to withdraw.

The idea of a joint exercise with the ALG isn’t a good one. The ALG is the body which represents London boroughs, so it would in effect be taking part in an investigation of itself. Also, the ALG are an obvious body to give evidence. So it would be investigating itself based on its own evidence … I think not!

But I have asked for a meeting with them to see what concerns they have. It’s worth seeing if they can make a case to my GLA colleagues and myself that we should amend our terms of reference for the investigation.

I very much hope that the Tories do not throw their toys out of the pram on this one. Firstly, it’s ridiculous. The Tories amended the terms of reference at the Transport Committee that approved the scrutiny and then voted in favour of the scrutiny.

Secondly, what an earth would it look like to London if the Tories refused to examine parking enforcement? Lord knows they are always complaining about all restrictions and charges on motorists. A sudden desire to avoid the subject might look very suspicious.

Anyway – hopefully it will all be sorted. Judging from the amount of emails and correspondence flooding in – this issue has touched a nerve in London. And that is one of our functions at the London Assembly – to raise issues of concern to Londoners.

Policing in London

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Today was the Met Police Commissioner’s conference where senior bods in the Met (and the Metropolitan Police Authority) gathered to ‘build on our success’ – i.e. plot and plan the way forward.

Sir John Stevens gave his usual stirring story for boys (and girls) speech. He is an absolute master of rallying his troops and motivating them. He’s really more of a politician than most the politicians I know – and better at it.

Myself and local Haringey Commander, Stephen Bloomfield, got an honorary named mention for Muswell Hill police station (see my blog entry for 27 September).

There was much success for him. This included the new “Safer Neighbourhoods” program. Currently it applies in three wards in each London borough, putting six police personnel on our streets, ring-fenced from removal for any other policing purpose.

However, the roll-out of the program faces funding problems. And without a pan-London roll out, there’s a risk that crime is displaced to areas outside the scheme.

Next was a speech from the Chair of the MPA, Len Duval. I have a lot of time for Len – voted for him to be Chair in fact – and time is what you needed today. Len had been given a slot of 15 minutes. Now what you have to understand about the Met is it runs like clockwork to time (if only our rail system did the same). Len made good points – and then remade them – and then veered off at tangents – and then made them again. The upshot being that he overran his slot by about 25 minutes – thus throwing the whole schedule into disarray and losing his audience entirely. Hope someone close to him whispers in his ear for next time.

Muswell Hill police station celebration

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Hurrah! I am at Muswell Hill Police Station at the re-opening of the police front counter.

It has taken five and one half years to get it reopened – but today is the day.

It was a fabulous feeling to see the reality, to meet the volunteers who have been trained to help staff the counter, and to have the Met Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens there to cut the ribbon.

It was good to hear him reiterate the importance and significance of the police station in our community. The local police commander, Stephen Bloomfield, also positively beamed with pleasure at the way things have got better in Haringey.

It is both his and Sir John’s real commitment to community policing and engagement which – added to our long campaign and the community’s support – delivered the wonderful occasion today.

Even Sir John allowed both himself and his uniformed officers to have a glass of champagne. The Met is really chilling out…

Education in Haringey

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[If you’ve come to this post looking for information about Baby P’s tragic death, please see my most recent posts about it.]

Met with Sharon Shoesmith, Director of Education at Haringey Council. Wanted to float a couple of ideas with her as well as getting updates on some key Haringey education issues.

The TUC are planning to sell their education centre in Crouch End. My fellow councillors in Crouch End have been pushing for it to be considered as a possible site for a new school. The good news is that this is now happening and a feasibility study is about to be published.

Also asked about the situation on school places for local children in Muswell Hill. The planning mess at Haringey meant that this year something like 40 children were unable to go to school anywhere near where they lived. I am assured that planning is well advanced and more sophisticated than has been the case to date. We’ll see.

One of the ideas I raised with her was the issue of pupil behaviour near schools. A few months ago I went to see the Head of Highgate Wood School about this. I often get complaints from residents around schools (not just this one) about the behaviour of pupils. I wanted to see how the school and local community could work together on the issue.

The Head suggested I follow up the idea through the LEA (local education authority) and Haringey Council channels. I’d heard nothing from them for some time, but the Director said she would follow up on this and let me know where the idea had got to.

My ‘big’ idea (well – the brilliant idea sent to me by a local resident) was to find if there were any retired teachers in Haringey who would like to help children with their homework after school in libraries. The person who had the idea was herself a retired teacher.

I thought this was brilliant – it would help children, help libraries and help retired teachers who still wanted to be active in this way. So I put this to Sharon Shoesmith, who liked the idea very much.

She suggested that instead of libraries – which might be difficult – the venue should be the after school clubs. This would make easier the police checks which have to be carried out on anyone working with children as they are venues already covered by this work.

I said that I would see if we could find if there were any retired teachers out there who would like to come forward. We will see – but she was open and enthusiastic about it – which is a good start.

Traffic and more traffic

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Back in London after the end of our party conference (and a great speech from Charles).

Yesterday presented the finding of my GLA transport committee’s investigation into road humps to a road safety conference. Today, my mind has turned to our investigation into parking enforcement in London again. Have noted that a couple of councils are a bit nervous about what we might find. Pressure has already been brought to bear to try and amend some of the terms of reference. Only thing I can say is that the louder someone squeals that the Assembly should keep it’ nose out of their business – the more convinced I am that the issue needs looking at.

We shall see how this all develops. I hope that all the boroughs and organisations will comply with our request for written evidence. (You can let me have your views through my feedback form).