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London Councils backs call for more community focused Met police service
The capital needs a more locally tailored and community sensitive police and criminal justice service, argues London Councils.
The call comes in response to a new report 'Your Police or Mine?', from the New Local Government Network (NLGN),which highlights the vital role local boroughs and their leaders play as lynchpins of local accountability for public services.
The report finds that the criminal justice system is seen as increasingly distant from the realities of the issues people in London face, which causes frustration for our local communities, and undermines public confidence in the police.
London's local authorities are keen to address this by developing practical solutions to increase the accountability of the Metropolitan Police Service, to solve the frustration felt by the capital's residents. This is seen as a necessary step to ensure the safety and peace of mind of Londoners.
London Councils believe the report has hit the spot in identifying the lack of answerability of the Metropolitan police force and its need to be more democratically accountable.
Speaking about the report executive member for crime and public protection Councillor Ian Clement said:
"As our own survey of Londoners shows, crime is the number one concern for Londoners today. The time has come for a serious debate about the real benefits that London boroughs can bring by increasing the accountability of the police to local communities.
London Councils is keen to lead this debate and we will be looking very carefully at the NLGN's proposals, which include giving oversight of borough policing to council leaders. And the ideas that Sir Ronnie Flanagan is preparing for the Home Secretary and ideas that are emerging from councils across London."
Notes to editors
For press enquiries please contact: holly Sutton on 020 7934 9842 Holly.sutton@londoncouncils.gov.uk Fax 020 7934 9777
For non-media enquiries contact: London Councils, 59½ Southwark Street, London SE1 0AL Tel 020 7934 9999 www.londoncouncils.gov.uk
