Police budget that will put police officers back on the streets welcomed by the Metropolitan Police Authority

13/01
15 February 2001

The Metropolitan Police Authority has welcomed today’s decision of the London Assembly to approve a £2 billion policing budget that will enable the recruitment of 1,050 additional officers for front line duties.

MPA Chair, Toby Harris, said:

"This budget will allow greater investment in policing in the capital, provide money to recruit additional officers to tackle violent crime in every London borough and enable us to recruit civilian staff to provide essential support to police officers.

"The Assembly has voted to support a budget that will increase the funding available to the Metropolitan Police by more than £150 million, of this £80 million is provided by central government and £70 million from the precept. In addition, central government is providing additional specific grants of £46 million to support various policing initiatives.

"This growth will finance:

• 1,050 extra police officers;
• a major investment in the Met’s civil staff;
• investment in technology to support the Met’s work;
• enhanced forensic capacity to permit more and faster use of DNA testing;
• Continuation of targeted initiatives against street crime (currently Home Office funded); and
• Continuation and expansion of the current work on race and violent crimes.

"In agreeing the budget, the Assembly has imposed a rise in cashable efficiency savings from £9m to £18m in the next financial year. This pegs the rise in the precept to 54p a week. This is in addition to the non-cashable efficiency savings already identified that improve the effectiveness of the way in which we use our resources.

"Although these savings may be tough to achieve, I believe that with careful financial management by the MPS and close scrutiny by the MPA, they are attainable. I also believe that Londoners are willing to pay this extra money to improve policing and reduce crime on our streets.

"We have sought and obtained from the Commissioner clear undertakings that the additional officers will be deployed on front-line policing. I can also confirm that this is of central importance as far as the MPA is concerned and the MPA will be monitoring progress on this throughout the year.

"Indeed, the MPA’s role will be crucial in ensuring that the Commissioner and the Metropolitan Police deliver on the key areas identified in this budget.

"It is the responsibility of the MPA to secure efficient and effective policing for London, and we will hold the MPS to account in managing and delivering the budget."

The MPA will:

• Monitor expenditure against budget on a monthly basis, requiring explanations of variances;
• Receive regular progress reports on the delivery of key budget objectives, such as police officer recruitment and retention, civil staff pay measures and the release of police officers from civilian posts;
• Receive regular reports on the identification and implementation of efficiency savings;
• Carry out a programme of systematic scrutiny of individual budget headings in greater detail to establish the appropriateness and necessity of expenditure;
• Manage in conjunction with the Mayor and the Commissioner, a comprehensive programme of independent efficiency and effectiveness reviews. Consultants to carry out the first phase of this work have already been selected, subject to approval by the Authority;
• As Best Value authority, draw up the Best Value performance plan and drive through reviews;
• Monitor performance against Policing Plan targets;
• Carry out a review of income generation;
• Ensure the clarification of financial and budgetary controls and require evidence of compliance with them;
• Develop medium term financial planning to provide a framework within which to manage future commitments and to secure a sound basis for future years’ budgets.

In addition, the Authority is:

• Taking the initiative to develop risk management within the MPS and to limit the exposure to financial risk by the introduction of appropriate insurance arrangements;
• Encouraging the introduction and development of the appropriate financial skills into the MPS;
• Securing a more rigorous presentation of the finances and costs of the MPS through the application of sound accounting practices;
• Engaging with Government to secure adequate funding for the future demands and requirements of policing in London.

Toby Harris added:

"In accordance with Home Office guidance and best practice, the Authority has delegated day-to-day financial management to the Commissioner. If financial management is not exercised effectively the Authority retains the sanction of withdrawing or limiting that delegation. Londoners can be assured that we will take our role of ensuring value for money very seriously.

"The MPA will report on all of this on a regular basis to the GLA Budget Committee and that Committee should invite the MPS to appear before them in six months’ time to report on the progress in meeting the objectives set out in this budget."

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