Community Scrutiny Panel - meeting minutes - August 2022

Date: 25 August 2022

Time: 6pm to 8.0pm

Venue: Microsoft Teams

Attendees: Natasha Clewley (NC), Loveness Bishi (LB), Phil Dickson-Earle (PD), Karen James (KJ) and Myrna Loy (ML), Howard McCalla (HM), Marcella Taylor-Smith (MT)

Bedfordshire Police: Karanjit Sanghera (KS), Ommer Khan (OK), Sean Aimson (SA), James Clatworthy (JC) and Ian Taylor (IT)

OPCC Office: Katie Beaumont (KB)

Apologies: Hina Shafi (HS), Tajamal , Aisha Sana (AS), Hayley Miller (HM), Kelly Sholagade (KS), James Turner (JT), Lauren Cox (LC)

Abbreviation:

• DP = Detained person

Welcome, Introductions and Apologies

The Chair welcomed all to the meeting and informed them that the Vice Chair would not be in attendance. The Chair informed all that the Vice Chair HS will be stepping down from September 2022 due to other commitments. We want to thank HS for her work over her time on the panel and wish her well in her future. All attendees of the meeting introduced themselves and explained their function/role within the meeting.  

Confidentiality

All have been sent the document.

Minutes of last meeting with matters arising and action points:        

The minutes of the previous meeting were discussed and agreed.

PD asked if the minutes are going to be shared with the Panel. KS stated that he can send them out to all or alternatively they will be made available on the Bedfordshire Police website. KB confirmed that they are also attached to the invite which was sent to all.

The Actions were discussed and updated in the table below.

Policing context

IT provided an update to the panel.

Chairs Introduction:

As per above update within the welcome, introduction and apologies .

Deputy Chair Update:

As per above update within the welcome, introduction and apologies.

Report back from S&S Sub Group:

NC stated to all that we are currently completing a recruitment drive for panel members and that we have currently received 18 applications from those who are interested in joining the panel. This will hopefully mean that these meetings will be a lot more effective, and we will have a lot more to feedback.

Report back from Use of Force Sub Group:

As per above update within the report back from the S&S sub-group.

Vice Chair; Reasonable grounds, GOWISLEY & RAG:

PD asked if NC could share the GOWISELY and RAG documents within the chat. KB shared with all.                                                      

BW video 1

The subject of this search is a male from Luton. All advised they do not know this person. The grounds recorded by the officer is that the officer received intelligence that a drug line was dealing in the Crawley Green Cemetery at that moment. The drug line utilises drug users to deal the drugs and users will congregate in large groups for the dealer. They were dealing large numbers all at once. Officers have attended and have seen subject in the bushes at the rear of the cemetery as if they were trying to remain out of sight of people and was with a number of other drug users. There is also intelligence on the subject suggesting he is involved in the supply of drugs for this particular drug line. This raised further suspicions that the subject was here to purchase or supply drugs and he was detained and searched under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

A discussion took place between the panel members.

Green 1 – 3 votes

Amber 4 – 1 vote

BW video 2

The subject of the stop and search has decided to not give their details, so if the panel recognise the individual please declare and leave the meeting. The panel advised that they did not know this person. Officer has attended a report of 14 males looking for a fight at a house with weapons in their possession and knives have been seen. The males have left prior to police arrival. Whilst officers have been waiting near the address in case they have come back, 3 males have then come back. Family have identified them as having knives. All 3 make off and we manage to detain 1 of them for a section 1 PACE search based on information provided by multiple members of the public.

PD asked IT how quickly they release the handcuffs? IT said as soon as officers have searched the individual and they are assured that the subject does not have a knife on them, the handcuffs should come off.

A discussion took place between the panel members.

Green 1 – 2 votes

Green 3 – 1 vote

Amber 4 – 1 vote

The panel agreed the final vote as Amber 4.

BW Video 3

The panel agreed that from Video 3, they will resume with the discussion before voting.

The subject has refused to give his details during this stop and search. The panel advised that they did not know this person. The grounds are that intelligence was received from security staff that the subject was believed to be in possession of a firearm which had been placed in his front waistband. CCTV had reviewed and there appeared to be a heavy item in the front of his trousers/bottom of his hoodie.

Amber 5 – 2 votes

Amber 4 – 1 vote

Green 2 – 1 vote

Following GOWISELY and based on the description of the grounds of stop and search, the panel decided that the final vote is Amber 4.

Digital around the use of biometric scanning devices (fingerprint scanning) 

JC and SA presented their slides to the panel on Mobile (HOB) Home Office Biometric Scanner. SA showed and tested the device to the panel via Teams.

 

Stop & Search data

IT will share this presentation with KB and NC. IT is happy for all panel members to draft up some comments and send them over to KB/NC. IT can then take these comments to the Force Exec Team to raise the views of the panel as to whether Bedfordshire Police will go ahead with this or not.

IT stated that due to the meeting overrunning, he will provide all panel members with a high level update document and the Stop and Search data will be shared with all.

KB advised all that we will be making the meetings slightly longer to allow discussion as per instruction from NC. If IT sends over all information to KB, she can then summarise and send it out to all. If there are any comments, please provide to KB who can then collate and send back to IT.

PSD referrals and outcomes:

N/A

Any Stop and Search Issues in the Community:

N/A.

AOB & Date of next meeting to be advised

KB updated all that we have completed a recruitment push and we have had 18 applications come forward for people who want to join the panel. KB will be completing some mini interviews and getting to know people over the next 3 weeks. KB is currently setting up the training sessions for them. If any panel members wish to join the training with the new starters, KB will send dates to all so anyone can attend.

PD asked KB where she has been recruiting. KB stated that we have being recruiting via social media and that KS and his team disseminated cards at the river festival, the AfroFest and also looking at a recruitment video. Posters have also been made to go around to community groups in Bedfordshire. MS said that she can help out with the interviews if required.

The date of the next meeting is 24 November 2022.