Metropolitan Police performance better than Audit Commission report suggests, says Metropolitan Police Authority

01/01
09 January 2001

MPA Statement By Toby Harris Following Release of the Audit Commission Performance Indicators 1999/2000 (Police and Fire Services Compendium).

Responding to the Audit Commission publication this morning of police and fire service performance indicators for 1999/2000, Toby Harris, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said:

‘We are pleased that public satisfaction with the Metropolitan Police is shown to be generally higher than average, which is also reflected in the Met’s latest public satisfaction survey.

‘The report also shows that complaints against the Met are down, which suggests greater public confidence and support.

‘But as the police authority for the Met, we are particularly concerned that the report highlights an apparent rise in crimes of violence in London, and a fall in detection rates.

‘While we broadly welcome the major part of the report, some of the data used for London to reach conclusions on crime and detection rates is questionable because of the use of old figures.

‘Out of date census information underestimates the current population and no account is taken of the transient commuter population, both of which inflate crimes per 1000 head of population artificially. Also, the Met has been particularly successful in encouraging people to come forward and report crime. So while it might appear that crime has gone up, figures are distorted by the increase in reported crime.

‘Detection rates must improve but we must not ignore the continuing successes in tackling burglaries, drug and gun crime.

‘Crime prevention initiatives and Neighbourhood Watch have combined to drive down the number of burglaries being committed in the capital and the MPS reduction targets for 2000/2001 are currently being achieved. Burglary clear-up rates are also improving. There have been other notable successes in the fight against drug and gun crimes.

‘The report’s conclusions on response to 999 calls that the Met did not achieve its target, also needs clarification. The Metropolitan Police handle 2.4 million 999 calls per year, more than four times any other police service. Performance has improved since April this year, with 93% of calls being answered within target in November.

‘Many problems faced by the Met today are compounded by the shortage of officers and civilian staff. Although the numbers of officers recruited has started to rise in recent months, we still need another 3,000 officers and 800 civilian staff to police London effectively.

‘Until we have sufficient numbers of officers policing our capital and, in particular, our boroughs, we will not be in a position to see significant improvements in performance. But despite these problems, what the Met has been able to achieve post-Macpherson, the report into the death of Stephen Lawrence, is commendable.’

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