The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee today condemned Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Stephen Greenhalgh for advising Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe not to appear at City Hall to provide information about policing in London.

The Commissioner had been expected to attend this morning's 10am meeting to provide evidence on a range of issues having a direct impact on policing and crime reduction in London. The Committee received an email at 9:52am today from the Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime informing it the Commissioner would not be attending.

Chair of the Police and Crime Committee Joanne McCartney AM said:

“When the new arrangements for policing in London were established the then Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime said that it would be inconceivable that the Commissioner would not accept an invitation to appear before the Assembly. Sadly today his successor has prevented London’s elected representatives from hearing directly from the capital’s chief of police.”

The Committee has a duty not only to hold the Deputy Mayor to account for his actions but also to investigate any matters of importance to policing in the capital.

It is inconceivable that the Commissioner would not have important information to share with the Committee about failures in the investigation of rapes in London, public order policing, the operational use of Tasers and policing the Diamond Jubilee, all subjects for discussion at today’s meeting.

We are committed to the transparent and accountable operation of policing in London; we hope the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime will come to share that objective. He failed today.”

 Notes to editors:

1. The Police and Crime Committee is responsible for examining the activities of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and investigating matters it considers to be of importance to policing and crime reduction in London.
2. The Police and Crime Committee is established under s32 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.
3. s33 (8) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act states that: “If the London Assembly requires the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, or the person who is the occupant of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, to attend proceedings, the Assembly may (at reasonable notice) request the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to attend proceedings on the same occasion for the purpose of giving evidence.”
4. The Chair of the Police and Crime Committee, Joanne McCartney AM, is available for interview, see contact details below.
5. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.