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A new era for policing in London

Monday, 16 January 2012

Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor for Policing on the new Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and what it means for London.

Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor for Policing on the new Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and what it means for London.

We have launched a new body, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC), which will make policing in London more transparent and accountable.

MOPC replaces the Metropolitan Police Authority in governing policing in the capital. It is a statutory body, and comes from the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act which reforms the accountability of police services across England and Wales.  Most importantly it will give local people a direct say in how they are policed.

London is leading the way and MOPC is the first organisation of its kind. The rest of the country will elect their Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in November 2012.

So what does the new organisation mean for policing in London?

It means the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Policing will be directly accountable for police performance, setting the Met’s strategic direction and allocating resources.

It doesn’t mean the Mayor is in charge of operational policing. That remains the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe.

The Mayor will however hold the Met Commissioner to account and ensure police target crimes that concern Londoners including serious youth violence, gangs, street crime, and making sure there are enough bobbies on the beat.

If you want to hear more about MOPC and tell us what you think our priorities should be for crime, policing and community safety, please come along to one of our road shows in February.

You’ll also be able to find out what MOPC means for you and how you can get involved.

MOPC road shows will be taking place on:

  • Saturday, 4 February 2012, Croydon, Jury’s Inn Hotel
  • Saturday, 18 February 2012, Hounslow – Lampton Park Conference Centre, Civic Centre

There will also be a MOPC event for crime and policing professionals at City Hall on Monday 20 February 2012.

Kit Malthouse
Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime