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• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

I will return to the politics of the situation in a moment. Firstly, can I ask Sir John for his professional take on the situation? Previously you were eloquently talking about the national responsibilities of the Met and our specific grant covering those of £200 million or so, is rising by 2.5%, less than the rate of inflation. I would really welcome your insight as to what you think the Government is up to. Given the stress we are under in London because of our national and international responsibilities why does central Government not seem to be recognising that, from...

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

Graham Tope (AM): I do not think any of us would want to suggest that this was an issue solely for the Met to deal with; I took that as a given. Toby mentioned earlier the issue of bullying. Quite often bullying of young people whether inside or outside school is regarded as something that is part of growing up. Is that the attitude that the Met takes, and if it is not as I hope, how do you work with local authorities and other agencies to address the issue of bullying amongst young people?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

Graham Tope (AM): Perhaps I may direct this at Sir John as well. The LSE and South Bank University study on Policing for London found that dissatisfaction with the police was greatest amongst the young. They said that their `focus groups brought out the intensity with which many young people see police activity as biased against them and based on negative stereotypes of youth'. What is being done to address that perception? More particularly, where do children and young people fit into models of community-based policing that we are hoping to move towards?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

I very much welcome the huge change in the Met's attitude to domestic violence over recent years. It is a complete turnaround and very welcome. I also welcome the answers we have had today. The report from the London Domestic Violence Forum stated amongst many other things that `Training for frontline officers in particular remains an urgent priority'. How is that being addressed?

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

At the MPA I have acknowledged the work that MPA members and the Met have done on this issue. Sitting as a Magistrate I certainly notice that there is a culture change in the police. Sir John, are you actually bringing the Magistracy on board as a whole? Because I have recently sat on quite a few of these cases and maybe one of my colleagues was not quite in agreement with my judgement. The most important thing you can do while the case is proceeding is to remove the offender from the home and that is the difficulty. Also...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

Obviously it appears that the one-stop shop approach is working. On 11 September last year the Government announced the launch of a 24-hour helpline with support from Comic Relief, for people to report domestic violence. Have the police or the Police Authority been involved with that initiative?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

I think Sir John's last point reassures me as regards the issue. I accept it in the spirit in which it is given. I hope that those responsible for distorting his words will reflect upon the damage that they have done to the Met's reputation. That is not a criticism of Sir John.

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

The Government recently proposed that the children of failed asylum seekers should be taken into care. What impact upon race and community relations do you think it would have to see Met officers assisting social workers in the Child Protection Agency as they forcibly remove these children from their parents? No doubt the parents would not surrender them willingly?

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

If an officer found the proposal morally repugnant, as indeed I do, and he refused the order to assist in the snatching of children from their parents, would he be subject to a disciplinary process?