MPA Chair says "Street crime is top priority and link with drugs has to be tackled"

07/00
14 July 2000

Commenting on the latest crime figures, Toby Harris, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority said:

“The overall increase in the recorded crime figures for London is cause for considerable concern, but the increase of 36 per cent in street crime is extremely disturbing.

“The Metropolitan Police are already taking measures to try to stem the increase in street crime. In particular, in May they launched the ‘Safer Streets’ campaign, a new anti street crime initiative throughout London. Under this, all London Borough Commanders are developing Street Crime Intervention Plans in all the London boroughs to tackle street crime from bag-snatching to aggressive begging.

“I support these measures and will be holding discussions with Sir John Stevens, the Police Commissioner, to see what further steps can be taken to reverse this unacceptable trend.

“I can assure Londoners that both the MPA and the Metropolitan Police are determined to tackle with vigour a problem which can affect any one of us at any time on any day. At the MPA’s first meeting last month, I identified street crime as a top priority for the Police in London and these figures demonstrate why this is so crucial. However, we have to recognise that much crime is linked to drugs and this has got to be tackled by strong action”.

The Home Office crime figures for the last financial year published to day show an overall increase in recorded crime of 3.8 percent across the country. In 18 police forces recorded crime decreased. But the figures for the Metropolitan Police District show an increase of 12.6 per cent, of which street crime was the main contributor, with a rise of 36 per cent.

Notes to editors

The Metropolitan Police Authority took over responsibility for the Metropolitan Police Service from the Home Secretary on 3 July. The Metropolitan Police Authority held its first meeting on 26 June, 2000 at which Lord Toby Harris was elected Chair and Peter Herbert and Richard Barnes were elected Deputy Chairs.

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback