Mayor invites Londoners to have their say on plans to tackle crime and make London safer
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The Mayor’s draft Police and Crime Plan sets out measures to tackle
crime as the number of police officers hits 33,000 for the first
time in a decade Sadiq’s Plan includes funding to address the
complex causes of crime, tackle violence in all its forms and
provide young Londoners with positive opportunities The plan
reflects the Mayor’s determination to increase trust and confidence
in policing and improve support for victims of crime...Request free trial
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has invited Londoners to have their say on his new draft Police and Crime Plan, which sets out his priorities to make the capital a safer city, and for Londoners to feel safer. The consultation on the Mayor’s Plan launches today [Tuesday 16th November], as the number of police officers in the Metropolitan Police has risen to over 33,000 for the first time in 10 years[1], following record levels of City Hall investment and the partial reversal of Government cuts. The draft Plan sets out the Mayor’s commitment to ensure London’s police service has the resources it needs to put more officers on the streets to suppress violence, including violence against women and girls, and to respond to the demands and pressures of policing a capital city. The Plan also outlines the action the Mayor is taking to continue to hold the Met to account, ensuring all Londoners have trust and confidence in their police force. Figures show that violence was falling in London before the pandemic, and over the past year knife crime, youth violence and gun crime have come down further[2]. Despite a decline in overall homicides, the number of teenage homicides in London has increased this year. Continuing to drive down crime and prevent violence and the loss of young lives is at the heart of the Mayor’s priorities for this term. The four key themes of the Plan are:
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Keeping Londoners safe is my number one priority and my draft Police and Crime Plan demonstrates I will continue to be both tough on crime and tough on the complex causes of crime, taking the action needed to keep our city safe and to ensure that victims of crime are supported. “Thanks to relentless effort by the Met Police and record funding from City Hall, violent crime is now falling – but there is still much more to do in order to prevent violence and stop the terrible loss of young lives in our city. I will continue to support the police in bearing down on criminality, providing record funding to put more officers on the streets, and stopping violence from happening in the first place by funding programmes that divert vulnerable young people away from crime, and providing positive opportunities for young Londoners. “This Plan also reflects my determination to increase the trust and confidence of all Londoners in their police service. I will continue to work with the Metropolitan Police and London’s Black communities to deliver my Action Plan for Transparency, Accountability and Trust in full, including an overhaul of community scrutiny of police tactics including stop and search, use of force and Taser. I will also continue to support the independent review into the Met’s culture and standards, to help rebuild women and girls’ trust in the police.
Cllr Jas Athwal, London Councils’ Executive Member for Crime and Public Protection: “The safety of our capital is the utmost priority for London boroughs. We continue to work closely with the Met and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime to keep Londoners safe, and welcome the publication of the draft Police and Crime Plan. The consultation is an opportunity for local authorities, faith and community groups and residents to shape the Met’s priorities over the next four years and I would encourage all organisations and local people to have your say.” Claire Waxman, London’s Independent Victim Commissioner said: “Too often victims of crime are treated as an afterthought by the criminal justice process, left struggling to navigate a complex system with too little support and information about their rights. “That’s why I welcome the measures set out by the Mayor in the Police and Crime Plan to improve the service and care victims receive from the Met and throughout the whole justice process, as well as focusing on reducing the number of victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence who are at risk of further violence. In particular, the Plan includes considering the creation of Victim Care Hub model, offering victims a single point of contact to support them throughout the whole justice process and ensure there is easily accessible victim support services enabling victims to cope with the justice system and recover from trauma. This is great progress as it has the potential to transform the way victims are treated and receive support.” ENDS Notes to Editors: Londoners can read the draft Plan and have their say on the proposals until 21st January 2022:www.london.gov.uk/policecrimeplan In the weeks ahead, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) will be hosting a range of consultation sessions for Londoners, which will be advertised in due course. References – to be added [1] Met workforce stats - highest number since July 2010 (32,995): https://www.met.police.uk/sd/stats-and-data/met/workforce-data-report/ [2] - Under-25s knife crime down 25% compared to its peak in the 12 months to December 2017 - Total knife crime resulting in injury was 21% lower than the peak recorded in 12 months to November 2017 - Gun crime was 26% below the peak recorded in twelve months to July 2017 |