Londoners Priority - More Effective Police Not More Regular Ballots

12.00.00am GMT Tue 4th Nov 2003

A new, separate directly-elected police authority for London is not a priority for Londoners, says Simon Hughes MP, Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate, in response to today's Home Office proposals on policing.

Simon Hughes said:-

"More effective policing in every London borough is what Londoners are regularly calling for, not yet another major reform of how we hold London-wide policing to account.

"Local people must have a greater say in how their communities are policed, and the Home Office must have less. In each community and borough, there should be regular opportunities for local communities and local councillors to influence how police officers spend their time and how they deter crime and catch criminals.

"I am very clear that each community across London needs a Minimum Policing Guarantee of 8 people contracted to police each community, with no risk of them being taken away for other duties.

"The public ought to be able to quiz local police and probation officers and the people who run our courts to make sure we have the most effective criminal justice system in each part of our capital city.