Harrow News

Councillor rejects axed police watchdog used as 'political football'

By David Hardiman

3:30pm Friday 27th January 2012

A Harrow politician has rejected claims by the head of an axed police watchdog that the body had been used as “a political football”.

Conservative leader Councillor Susan Hall said that chairwoman of the Harrow Police Community Consultative Group (HPCCG), Sonoo Malkani, was at fault for the group’s failed application for funding from the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA).

The 30-year-old group announced it would have to disband on Monday night, after the MPA said its application did not set out what the group would spend the £50,000 it received annually in enough detail and did not follow guidelines.

The decision means Harrow is the only London borough without an independent community policing watchdog.

Cllr Hall said: “I’m as dismayed at its demise as everyone else, but it’s got nothing to do with politics – it’s got everything to do with good governance.

“The MPA gave them three attempts at a submission and it still wasn’t filled in correctly. Sonoo Malkani decided she knew better and she should have asked for help.

“The MPA is not going to hand out taxpayers’ money when they’ve already said no three times. They are blaming everyone but themselves – but it’s the committee’s fault.”

Last year Cllr Hall, questioned spending on catering, event tickets and other items from the group’s budget after it was asked to reveal its accounts by Harrow Council, and queried whether the group was spending its cash on policing.

But the group had not kept detailed accounts since it was set up and could not provide the level of detail requested of it by the MPA, although it did explain expenditure that was queried.

Cllr Hall added that she hoped a new body could be set up to revive independent scrutiny of the police, taking advantage of the money which the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime – which replaced the MPA last week – says is still available.

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