This meeting included a wide range of topics, but the most significant points included for discussion were the adoption of the City of London Corporation’s Risk Management Policy across the City of London Police, a review of the City of London Police Authority Board’s Terms of Reference, an update on policing for the next three years, and updates on Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity work.

City of London Corporation Risk Management Policy

The City of London Police Authority Board was asked to endorse the City of London Corporation’s Risk Management Policy¹ for application to the City of London Police.

The report pack states that “A robust risk management culture and framework is key to achieving our strategic objectives, not least in ensuring that decision-makers have the information they need to make strategic and operational decisions”.

The report pack states that this document differs from a 2021 policy in a few ways: the overarching Risk Management Strategy is now separate from the Risk Management Policy, the content has been updated based on feedback, the sections are designed to stand alone, and risk appetite statements are now separate documents.

City of London Police Authority Board Terms of Reference Review

The City of London Police Authority Board was asked to approve an addition to its Terms of Reference² requiring members to complete training provided by The Pensions Regulator and to stay up to date with this training.

This item was included in the report pack because the City of London Police Pensions Board agreed to the requirement at its meeting on 17 July 2024.

Policing Plan 2025-28 Update

The report pack includes a progress report on the development of the City of London Police’s 2025-28 Policing Plan, following on from a workshop with the Board on 7 October 2024 and updates provided to the Strategic Planning and Performance Committee in September 2024 and to the Board itself in October 2024.

The report pack sets out the process that has been undertaken to co-produce the plan and gather evidence, including consultation with City residents, businesses and workers as well as with the Board.

The report pack suggests three new operational priorities and accompanying commitments for discussion:

Keeping people in the City safe and feeling safe

The report pack argues that this should involve:

• Delivering safe city streets
• Protecting the City from terrorism
• Tackling acquisitive crime³ and violence in all its forms

Putting supporting and safeguarding victims and vulnerable people at the heart of everything we do

The report pack suggests that this will involve:

• Improving communications with victims
• Providing victims with professional support
• Improving outcomes for victims
• Safeguarding vulnerable people

Improving the policing response to economic and cyber crime

The report pack states that this will involve:

• Protecting people and businesses online
• Pursuing offenders
• Protecting people and businesses from fraud, economic and cyber crime

The report pack also suggests three new organisational priorities for discussion:

Be one of the most inclusive and trusted police services in the country

The report pack describes this as involving a commitment to improving:

• The diversity of the workforce, standards and ethics, and leadership
• The equity of the working culture
• The accessibility and inclusivity of policies
• Engagement with communities
• Collaboration with other organisations

Be an employer of choice

The report pack argues that achieving this involves:

• Attracting and recruiting the best staff
• Developing and retaining staff
• Delivering on the City of London Corporation’s People Strategy

Achieve organisational and commercial proficiency

The report pack states that this should involve:

• Continually improving the effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy of the organisation
• Planning effectively
• Delivering a productivity strategy

The report pack also includes discussion of how the new plan will be monitored, what it will look like, how its progress will be communicated to the public and how it will affect the City of London Police’s other strategies and plans.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity (EDI) Update

The report pack provides a progress update on EDI work being done by the City of London Police.

The report pack states that since the last update a new EDI governance structure has been put in place, including a new EDI Delivery Board and an EDI Strategic Board, as well as a plan to develop new EDI dashboards.

The report pack details the following activity that has taken place since the last update:

Inclusivity Programme

The report pack states that since the last update training on “Ethical dilemmas”, “Understanding Ideologies linked to Extremism” and “Active Bystander” has been provided through the Inclusivity Programme, and details the number of places made available on these courses and how many were taken up. The report pack also notes that work is underway to improve the quality of feedback gathered on these courses.

Code of Ethics Roadshow

The report pack includes a description of a planned “Code of Ethics Roadshow” at which the City of London Police will showcase to the College of Policing how they are using and interpreting the College’s new Code of Ethics. The report pack notes that the City of London Police will use this event to publicise its EDI work.

Staff Networks and Associations

The report pack describes a new requirement for the 13 staff networks and associations to provide quarterly updates on their activities, and highlights the issue of a lack of support for staff networks from supervisors as a key theme that has emerged from the first round of updates.

Resourcing and Demand

The report pack states that a new Chief Inspector will be joining the Inclusivity, Culture and Organisational Development team.

The report pack notes that work is underway to recruit a new Grade E Organisational Development (OD) Practitioner, who will be responsible for the City of London Police’s Staff Survey, Leadership Training and Evaluation. The report pack also notes that a new PC Staff Officer has been recruited, and that work is underway to recruit to four more PC vacancies.

Other Topics Scheduled to be Discussed

The report pack also states that the following were included for discussion during the meeting:

• Recent minutes and non-public summaries of the Economic and Cyber Crime Committee, Resource Risk and Estates Committee, Professional Standards and Integrity Committee, Strategic Planning and Performance Committee meetings
• The City of London Corporation’s Risk Management Policy
• A public update by Tijs Broeke, the Chair of the Board, which would include reference to the recruitment of the new City of London Police Commissioner, Pete O’Doherty
• An update by Commissioner O’Doherty, which included summaries of the policing of the International Investment Summit and the Lord Mayor’s Show
• An annual update on the activities and functions of the City of London Police’s custody suite
• The Independent Custody Visiting Scheme’s annual report, which details the issues raised by members of the scheme⁴
• The provisions of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, also known as “Martyn’s Law”
• An update on the City of London Police’s Revenue and Capital budgets.