Final Report of the Morris Inquiry: The Case for Change

THE CASE FOR CHANGE
“You can only have accountability from a position of knowledge.
You can only obtain that knowledge by scrutiny.
If there is no scrutiny, there can be no accountability.”
Peter Herbert, Member of the MPA
The role of the Metropolitan Police Authority in people matters
6.1 Paragraph 5 of our terms of reference asks us: “To consider and make
recommendations on the role of the Police Authority and its Members in relation to the
consideration of high profile or sensitive cases, and the oversight of the performance of the
MPS in relation to the matters covered by this Inquiry.”
6.2 We deal with professional standards cases later in this chapter. Here we deal
briefly with the MPA’s role in relation to human resource issues, in particular
grievances and Employment Tribunal cases.
6.3 Police authorities have a duty to secure ‘efficient and effective’ policing in their area.
“Ensuring that the force has in place an effective HR strategy, and that HR planning and
management is fully integrated into the overall business process, is fundamental to this task.
Each police authority must be able effectively to scrutinise its force’s activity across the HR
function and assure itself that the force is maximising the potential of its most valuable assets –
its police officers, support staff and members of the special constabulary – for the delivery of
more effective policing.”
(PEOPLE MATTERs, A framework for police authority oversight of police human resource
plans (APA).)
6.4 Police authorities are responsible for agreeing the annual costed HR plan
prepared by the police service and for agreeing the annual priorities for investment
in training with the Chief Constable (the Commissioner).
6.5 The APA publication, PEOPLE MATTERs, provides a framework for police
authority oversight of HR planning, policies and practices. It is in the course of
being updated but is an extremely valuable source of support and guidance to
police authorities in discharging their responsibilities in relation to people
management.
6.6 The MPA oversees human resource matters in the MPS through its Human Resources
Committee. The Committee’s terms of reference give it the role of monitoring activity
on all HR issues. This also includes grievances and Employment Tribunal cases.
6.7 The APA has also published guidance on effective oversight and scrutiny of
grievances and Employment Tribunal cases, PEOPLE MATTERs, Tackling discrimination:
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