A meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) will be held in meeting room 1 (ground floor), 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1 on Thursday 27 March 2008 at 10.00 a.m.

Members will consider the MPA report 'Developing a London Hate Crime Forum' and the MPS 'Integrated race hate crime strategy overview'.

Catherine Crawford, chief executive of the MPA, said:

"The MPA congratulates the Race Hate Crime Forum (RHCF) for its achievements over the last four years and for the best practise it has established to tackle this type of crime.

"At the January full authority members were invited to debate the future direction of the Race Hate Crime Forum and discuss whether their valuable work should be extended to all hate crime in London.
Development of a London hate crime forum would benefit from best practise from both the Race Hate Crime Forum and the MPA Domestic violence board.

"The Met has integrated hate crime policies within existing corporate strategies, specifically the serious violence strategy and the equalities scheme, and also through local strategies at borough level. The Met's objective is to build and increase trust and confidence within communities affected by hate crime. By encouraging reporting of all types of hate crime and increasing local intelligence, the Met hope to tackle these crimes more effectively.
A pan London hate crime forum would help the Met establish a consistent approach towards hate crime across London's 32 boroughs as well as enabling the MPA to scrutinise the implementation of the Met's strategies.

"The MPS definition of a hate incident is 'any incident that is perceived by the victim or any other person to be racist, homophobic, transphobic or due to a person's religion, belief, gender identity or disability'. The MPA is determined to work with the MPS to help tackle these heinous crimes and ensure that all our communities can live without fear or apprehension."

Other items on the agenda include:

* Policing London business plan and budget 2008 - 2011;
* Local code of corporate governance; and
* Calendar of committee meetings 2008/09.

Commissioner Sir Ian Blair will give an update on operational policing issues in London and present a written performance report.
Please note: the Commissioner's update will take place as near to 12:00 as possible, discussion permitting.