COMMUNITY-POLICE Martin Bridger, Supt. Stewart Information from the CPCG CONSULTATIVE GROUP Low (Brixton), Supt. Alistair Board and Members for LAMBETH Sutherland (Kennington); Supt. Jonathan Tottman (Streatham), 6. Pauline Bower announced that MINUTES OF THE MEETING Supt. Paul Wilson (Community she had resigned as the official Partnership), Sgt. Ronnie Whelan representative of Churches 2 May 2006 SECRETARIAT Ben McKendrick Together in Clapham. A replacement had yet to be West Indian Ex-Servicemen’s & Apologies: David Corderoy, decided. She said that she Ex-Servicewomen’s Assoc. Insp. Graham Croucher, Gary would be concentrating her time Dando, Sheila Draper, Maude and energy on a project PRESENT: CPCG BOARD Paul Estwick, Rowena Estwick, Bushy concerning the 2007 bi-centenary Andell, Greta Brooks (Churches Kelly, Sally Rance, Paul celebrations of the Abolition of Together in Brixton), Canon Reynolds, Cllr. Darren Sanders, the Slave Trade Act. Ivelaw Bowman, Lee Jasper, Jim Cheryl Sealey, Hazel Watson Toohill (Victim Support), Anna 7. However, Ms Bower said that Tapsell (Ind. Membs), Wesley she had loved being part of the Stephenson (Your Story). Abdul Introduction Group although sad to be leaving Sultan Virani (Lambeth with some unresolved questions Pensioners’ Forum) 1. The Group held a minute’s related to the Group’s COMMUNITY AND silence in memory of Alfie governance. She said that the VOLUNTARY MEMBERSHIP Howard, Lambeth Town Crier, expertise of former members Nick Abengowe (Herne Hill who had passed away on 28 Paul Twyman and Paul Reid had Forum); Robert Holden (Friends April. Lee Jasper said that Alfie been lost to the Group as a result of Brockwell Park); Pauline had been an institution whose of having been treated guilty, Bower (Churches Together in presence at many events despite unsubstantiated Clapham); Rod Brown (Lambeth throughout the borough brought allegations and no evidence of Leaseholders Forum); Wally smiles to many faces. wrong-doing against them. Channon, Peggy Tyler (Clapham Town N’hood Watch); Neil 8. Similarly, Ms Bower expressed Flanigan (West Indian Ex- Minutes of the Meeting 4 April her concern about the lack of Servicemen’s and 2006 help afforded by the Group to Servicewomen’s Assoc.); David 2. The Minutes of the Meeting of Kelly ben-Maimon who, she said, Hart, Ros Munday (Clapham 4 April 2006 were accepted had suffered discrimination, while Community Partnership); Stuart without amendment. another former member John Horwood, John Gordon (Brixton Howard had also not been Market Traders Federation); treated well. Furthermore, she Hedley Johnson (West Indian Matters Arising from the said that Abdul Sultan Virani and Standing Conference); Dr Brian Minutes 4 April 2006 she had still not received a letter Mantell (Assoc. of Jewish Ex- of apology promised for the way Servicemen & Women); Ros 3. Mr Jasper said the Group’s they had been treated over the Munday (Clapham Community Board would continue to consider former Racial Harassment Partnership); The Most Rev. Dr S.44 legislation in relation to stop Committee. Bancroft McCarthy, Phyliss and search [Minute 5, 04/04/06]. Jackson (HMP Brixton 9. Ms Bower concluded saying Independent Monitoring Board); 4. Although Borough Commander that she hoped future procedural Hazel Saunders (Lambeth Victim Martin Bridger had said he would matters and internal problems Support); George Tuson provide statistics for the would be handled more justly, (Streatham Southern Sector abstraction of officers from openly and properly by the Working Group); John Brixton Town Centre, Mr Jasper CPCG Board members and that Wainwright (Clapham Sector said that the Group needed to be the Group would become a real Working Group). INDIVIDUAL clear of the purpose of asking for and respected force for good in MEMBERS Shane Collins, Peter the breakdown of statistics the borough. Harris; Lena James; Gill Kenealy, provided by the police [Minute 6, Richard Moore, Fernando Senior, 04/04/06]. 10. Mr Jasper thanked Pauline Jane Warwick STATUTORY Bower for her contribution over MEMBERSHIP; Lloyd Leon 5. With regard to the police many years of working on the Panel of Independent Custody response to an incident in Brixton Group’s behalf, which was Visitors LAMBETH COUNCIL Market, Sergeant Ronnie Whelan appreciated and recognised. Cllr. Peter O’Connell, Chris Lee said that police had responded in However, he said that some of (Asst. Ch. Exec), Simon Harding time, i.e. within twelve minutes, the issues she raised had been (Asst. Dir. Community Safety but was prepared to further heavily disputed and subject to Team) METROPOLITAN discuss the details with Stuart discussion and correspondence POLICE SERVICE Brgh. Cmdr. Horwood [Minute 13, 04/04/06]. for many years. Mr Jasper 1 added that while he understood 15. Mr Bridger stated that the the would-be bomber who grows the importance of her IPCC investigation into the direct up within a Western culture, and undertaking in respect of the complaint from the family of Jean the challenge of identifying such bicentennial anniversary of the Charles de Menezes, concerning people in the future. abolition of slavery, he hoped she incorrect information released would attend as many Group into the public domain and the 20. Mr Bridger said that he had meetings as she possibly could. subsequent failure to correct it been approached by people in was still ongoing. It was the community to hold a street 11. Jim Toohill drew the expected that the investigation party to celebrate how Brixton meeting’s attention to the would be completed shortly. had changed 25 years after the Group’s May briefing paper (see uprising and had become a place attached) for information from the for the future. Mr Bridger said CPCG Board. Items included Lambeth Police Report and that he and the Lambeth Ch. were: IPCC Stockwell Review of 2005/6 Exec. had given their support for Investigations; Lambeth CCTV the celebrations to take place on Strategy; Fridge Nightclub Drugs 16. Mr Bridger reported on a 29 May. Raid; No Deal in Brixton; MPS conference in Madrid, Spain, he Position on Drugs. had attended with Gloria Gomez 21. Mr Bridger reported on a raid 12. Lambeth Crime Statistics. Mr and Toaha Quereshi. Mr Bridger on the Fridge nightclub on 15 Toohill reported that, at a recent said that the invitation to share April the details of which were meeting with the IPCC, the good practice was the result of included in the police report (see Community Reference Group the recognition for the collective attached). Mr Bridger said the had urged that, in the event of good work done by the borough Fridge would need to address the CPS not bringing charges, in the aftermath of the killing of certain issues with the local the IPCC should publish as much Jean Charles de Menezes and authority and satisfy the courts. of their report as they could, in the bombing incidents in July However, he said that it would order to build community 2005. hopefully be up and running confidence in the process. He again but that it would have to be also drew the meeting’s attention 17. Mr Bridger reminded the run responsibly. He added that to the ACPO review of police meeting that the people of Madrid another club in Kennington had response to suicide terrorism, had suffered the loss of over 200 previously been closed and that which did not mention the Kratos people in a terrorist attack, and he would not tolerate drug tactics specifically but rather said that he was proud to deliver dealing and drug abuse in such placed the response firmly in the the good practice carried out in establishments. context of the long-standing Lambeth during a time in which ACPO guidelines on the use of cohesion in the community was 22. Canon Bowman firearms by the police. maintained by not allowing the congratulated the police for the Muslim community to become raid on the Fridge nightclub. 13. Mr Bridger also gave an isolated. However, he said that he was update from the IPCC amazed that the Fridge had been investigation which stated that 18. Further to community closed for 28 days while the the main investigation report’s engagement issues and Lambeth Mass, scene of shootings and supplementary report, setting out leading as a community, Mr stabbings and an endless list of its recommendations, was still Bridger said that he would be trouble, was still open. being considered by the Crown going to Pakistan the next day. Prosecution Service (CPS). The The reason, he said, was due to 23. Supt. Low said that with IPCC had previously stated that it the fact that three of the four regard to the Mass, police had had hoped to receive a decision suicide bombers of 7 July were been aware of things going on from the CPS around Easter. young British born Muslims to and police had hence been very However, this would not now whom something had happened, robust in dealing with the club. occur, although the CPS was whereby they became terrorist Having linked up with the local hopeful; for a decision fairly soon. bombers. Furthermore, one of authority, he said that the Mass those arrested and accused of had been served a final letter in 14. Mr Bridger said that the the 21 July bombings came from relation to the club’s CPS had also confirmed that the Lambeth community and management, security staff and a all interested parties would be attended a Stockwell mosque. host of other issues. He added provided with the actual date that the club was now subject to of the decision release one 19. While the terrorist threat a robust regime in respect of week in advance. He added remained, Mr Bridger compliance. that he would inform the Group commended the sharing of good of the actual decision once he practice.