Title: Water Cannon Project Board

Transcription

1 Water Cannon Project Board Minutes Title: Water Cannon Project Board Duration: hrs Date: 6 th March 2013 Location: Conf. Rm 3, 10 Victoria St, London Chair: CC David Shaw (DS) ACPO Conflict Management Portfolio Lead Staff Officer: CI Andy Milne (AM) Present: Cdr Dave Martin (DM) CI Richard Munns (RM) Supt Mark Purdon (MP) CI Andy Mellows (AMELL) Apologies: Supt Ian Hall (IH) Supt Elaine Van-Orden (EV-O) Sarah Severn (SS) Martyn Hills (MH) Insp Nick Sutcliffe (NS)

2 Agenda Item 1: Attendance / Apologies Introductions were made and apologies were noted. Agenda Item 2: Minutes of previous meeting 9 January 2013 The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as an accurate record. Agenda Item 3: Actions Log Review The actions log was reviewed and updated (see end of minutes). Agenda Item 4: SRO Update DS reported that the issue of water cannon had been discussed at Chief Constables Council at the end of January. He explained that the wider discussion had been powerful and that there had been unanimous agreement to proceed with the associated project. DS explained that work was still needed regarding the funding model as there was understandably a range of views regarding funding based firstly on likelihood of deployment and secondly on yet to be established costs. DS reported that a response had been received from Police Scotland indicating their support for the project. AM reported that Ch Supt. Derek Robertson would represent them on the project board. DS explained that discussions with the MPS had revealed that there was no appetite to let another summer pass without water cannon being available and that everything possible would be done to secure water cannon for this summer. It was accepted that this would constitute a separate work stream within the overall project. DM explained that the MPS hoped to have water cannon prior to the G8 conference. Whilst there is no specific intelligence at this stage, early indications are that some protest may occur in London due to some protestors not wishing to travel to Northern Ireland. DS expressed that the most pressing matter was to consider options for obtaining water cannon in the interim period (i.e. between the present and the longer-term procurement of a bespoke product). Agenda Item 5: Project Manager Update AM explained that MH had prepared a new Gantt chart relating to the project (circulated). A discussion took place around procurement timescales and AMELL stated that early indications were that time from order placement to delivery could be as long as 18 months. It was identified that this might create the need for the interim solution to be in place for 2 summers. ACTION MH to revise Gantt chart to reflect possible procurement timescales and lead times. Also to include ministerial sign-off milestones and SACMILL process. ACTION MH to create separate Gantt chart for work stream to acquire interim solution. Agenda Item 6: Operational Requirement / Technical Requirement

3 AM explained that the OR had been written and he thanked the group that had contributed to this. The OR has now been approved by CC Ian Learmonth (ACPO POPS) and has been passed to CAST to support the Technical Requirement. GS explained that he hoped to have the TR completed by the end of March GS explained that there was a meeting of SACMILL on 25/3/13 with an agenda item being the acceptance / adoption of 12 existing DOMILL statements of which 2 relate to water cannon. GS explained that one related to the Somati RCV9000 and the other to the Belgian water cannon that had been borrowed previously by police in Northern Ireland. A discussion took place around the need to refresh these statements. ACTION SG to provide update in relation to the information required for the SACMILL meeting on 25/3/13. ACTION GS to report back to project board following SACMILL meeting on 25/3/13. Agenda Item 7: Procurement Options A discussion took place around procurement options. RA explained that it was essential that the group understood the legal impact of any short-term solution on the long-term solution. RA explained that care needed to be taken around procurement processes so as not to create legal vulnerabilities. DM stated that, if preferable, MPS procurement staff and processes could take the lead on procuring water cannon in the short term. A discussion took place on the procurement options and legal issues associated with the short-term acquisition of water cannon. This included whether any exemption relating to national security might apply. It was agreed that soft market testing would be appropriate as long as it was carried out without prejudice or commitment. SG explained that ministers would need to be aware of any decision to approach other countries currently using water cannon or manufacturers / importers of water cannon in relation to a short-term solution. It was agreed that borrowing water cannon from another European country appeared to be the best way forward and a discussion took place around countries that might be prepared to loan water cannon to the UK. DM agreed to take forward enquiries with other countries that might be able to loan water cannon as an interim solution. ACTION RA to send DS Home Office advice regarding procurement options, obligations and risks (to include legal advice). ACTION SG to send DS and DM a list of countries that should be excluded from these discussions. ACTION GS to send RM details of which countries have water cannon. ACTION DM to make enquiries with appropriate countries regarding possibility of borrowing water cannon for the interim period. Agenda Item 8: Communications A discussion took place earlier in the meeting regarding communications. SG advised that Ministers needed to be briefed on the current state of the project to be able to approve the project moving forward to a procurement stage and in particular the plans to obtain an interim solution for the MPS area. DS and DM explained that previous correspondence with the Policing Minister had set out the operational requirement for water cannon and sought clarification on what further briefing documents would be required by Ministers. A wider discussion took place around the need for consistent communications between ACPO, the MPS, Government and other interested parties. AM stated that IH

4 had been asked to provide a strategic overview of the ACPO POPS engagement around the wider public order framework but recognised that IH had been extremely busy with work relating to G8 on which ACPO POPS staff are leading. ACTION SG to send DS/AM the requirements for briefing the Policing Minister. ACTION SG (and team) to ensure continual dialogue between the HO and Ministers. DS and DM to ensure the same continual dialogue with the MPS Commissioner. ACTION IH to provide strategic overview of engagement carried out in relation to wider public order framework. It was stated that water cannon from the PSNI would be arriving on the UK mainland in the next two months to enable public order staff to train for deployment to support the G8 protest. It was agreed that a media strategy needed to be in place to deal with any media interest in this training. It was agreed that this would present a good opportunity for interested parties to view water cannon tactics and training. ACTION AM to liaise with IH to establish arrival dates for water cannon. ACTION DS / AM to draft media strategy relating to the project and circulate. Agenda Item 9: Risk Register The risk register prepared by MH was distributed and discussed. Amendments were suggested and it was agreed that Item 1 needed to be split into 2 parts (risk to reputation of UK policing and risk of not following the correct procurement and engagement paths before deployment). It was agreed that one risk register would cover all elements of the project and that a separate register was not needed in relation to the interim solution. ACTION AM to brief MH on changes and update risk register. Agenda Item 10: AOB The frequency of meetings was discussed. It was agreed that the monthly meetings would not be sufficient given the urgency surrounding finding a short-term solution. It was agreed that the monthly meetings would remain in place with a teleconference call being scheduled in between these meetings. DS stressed that members of the project board must be able to give updates in relation to actions during these teleconference calls. ACTION AM to schedule teleconference calls and circulate details. Date of the next and future teleconference meetings to be circulated separately. The next meeting at 10 Victoria Street will be on Thursday 11 th April 2013, hrs

5 Actions Log Action No Date issued Owner Action Update CI Milne / All AM to send electronic copies of TOR and Gantt chart to attendees with minutes Document sent - completed ALL to review the draft TOR and Gantt chart and provide comments / feedback to MH by 25/1/ CC Shaw DS to write to Scottish Police regarding project SG to raise issue of contact with Scottish Police with Home Office colleagues CC Shaw DS to provide written update to Minister following meeting CC Shaw ACTION DS to speak to HO regarding comms strategies Martyn Hills ACTION MH to create risk register Supt. Hall IH to contact CoP to identify suitable representative for Project Board CC Shaw DS to discuss engagement with PCC and the APCC at Chief Constable s Council CC Shaw DS to write to relevent organisations (CAST / Home Office) post Chief Constable s Council. Completed Ch Supt Derek Robertson is nominated representative - completed Update 6/3/13 SG will progress now that police to police contact has been made. - ongoing Update 6/3/13. Letter had been drafted but would be revised following meeting on 6/3/13 - ongoing Comms strategy to be written and agreed see later action discharged. Completed Representative will be either Mike Ismay or Brian Spence - completed Update 6/3/13 will need to be done once costings known - ongoing Update 6/3/13 not yet complete ongoing Martyn Hills 1 - MH to revise Gantt chart to reflect possible procurement timescales and lead times. Also to include ministerial sign-off

6 milestones and SACMILL process. 2 - MH to create separate Gantt chart for work stream to acquire interim solution SG to provide update in relation to the information required for the SACMILL meeting on 25/3/ GS to report back to project board following SACMILL meeting on 25/3/ RA to send DS Home Office advice regarding procurement options, obligations and risks (to include legal advice). 2 - SG to send DS and DM a list of countries that should be excluded from discussion regarding loan of water cannon XXXXXXXXXX GS to send RM details of which countries have water cannon Cdr Martin DM to make enquiries with appropriate countries regarding possibility of borrowing water cannon for the interim period SG to send DS/AM the requirements for briefing the Policing Minister CC Shaw Cdr Martin SG (and team) to ensure continual dialogue between the HO and Ministers. DS and DM to ensure the same continual dialogue with the MPS Commissioner Supt. Hall IH to provide strategic overview of engagement carried out in relation to wider public order framework CI Milne AM to liaise with IH to establish arrival dates for water cannon CC Shaw DS / AM to draft media strategy relating to the project and

7 CI Milne circulate CI Milne AM to brief MH on changes and update risk register CI Milne AM to schedule teleconference calls and circulate details.