Ibero-American Association at The Metropolitan Police

The Metropolitan Police Ibero-American Association (MPIAA) is open to police officers and police staff of Latin American, Portuguese, Spanish, Angolan, Mozambique or Equatorial Guinean (IA) background and those who speak Spanish or Portuguese or who have an interest in the language and culture of these communities.

The MPIAA was formed in May 2007 to provide a social and cultural forum for IA members of the MPS and to provide a focus group for IA issues and promote diverse understanding of their culture within the police service.

Internal Focus

• Establish a social and cultural forum for IA staff through social functions and celebrations, dates and festivals on respective calendars
• Promote a greater understanding of the language and culture of Ibero- Americanism amongst staff within the MPS.

• Play a positive role in the recruitment and retention of staff from IA communities, working towards making the MPS more representatives of the people it serves.
• Provide mentoring and support to IA staff members to assist in retention and develop individual careers.

External Focus

• Continue to build links with IA communities to enhance the ‘Trust and Confidence’ in MPS activities.
• Provide the MPS with managed access to staff that have maintained regular contacts through a structured programme of community meetings and events and can be called upon at times of heightened tension, after a major event or to give input at strategic meetings.
• Develop a cadre of officers available to CCRU, for their increasing workload and have in place a support mechanism for staff involved.
• Respond to local BOCU requests for assistance in outreach crime surgeries, events and advice where necessary.