Metropolitan Police Authority Full Authority meeting

57/02
22 May 2002

The Metropolitan Police Authority will meet on Thursday 23 May at 10.00am in Romney House, 43 Marsham Street, London SW1 3PY. This meeting is open to members of the public and press.

This month Members will be examining two reports on major crime initiatives - Operations Strongbox and Safer Streets. Operation Strongbox ran from May 1999 until March 2002 and was one of several tactics used by the Met to fight crimes such as burglary, street crime, car crime and drugs. Best practice learnt from Operation Strongbox was incorporated into Operation Safer Streets. 

Operation Safer Streets, phase one, ran for eight weeks from February to March 2002, across nine London boroughs in response to the unprecedented rise in street crime after the 11 September attacks in New York when officers were moved from boroughs to protect central London against terrorist attack. It was highly successful in reducing street crime and Safer Streets, phase two, was launched in April 2002 across a further six boroughs and will run until March 2003. Toby Harris, Chair of the MPA said:

"We are naturally very concerned that street robberies rose so dramatically during the early part of the year and recognise that this level of crime and violence is totally unacceptable to Londoners.

"With the MPA's active encouragement, the Commissioner launched Operation Safer Streets, which has hit back hard at street robbers, with a big increase in the number of arrests and a reduction in crimes committed.

"Clearly, having a highly visible police presence on our streets does reduce crime, which is why we and the Commissioner have insisted that all of the 1,050 additional officers recruited over the past 12 months have gone onto London boroughs. 

"People want more officers on the streets but they also want them to be effective in tackling crimes while they are there. Latest figures show that Safer Streets, which uses intelligence-led policing, is delivering in both these respects. 

"However, we must make certain that these measures continue to be successful, maintained and improved on. The initiative has been extended for the rest of the year to keep up the pressure on street robbers which will hopefully reassure Londoners that we are taking their concerns seriously.

"Maintaining the necessary levels of visible policing on our streets could result in other areas of work suffering as a consequence and we will continue to work together with the Met to ensure that other essential and support services are properly maintained. 

"There are complex reasons for the alarming increase in street crime which need to be addressed by other agencies, not just the police, if youngsters are to be diverted away from crime. The Home Secretary has announced major new initiatives to address these wider issues and these will support and enhance the work already being carried out by many agencies and partners, including the Met and the MPA, to reduce crime and make our streets safer."

Extraordinary measures were introduced to combat street crime, including the re- deployment of 500 additional officers from various units across the Met. During the original eight week period, 866 people were arrested for street crime. Safer Streets has proved that when police are deployed in sufficient numbers using the right tactics, they do have a major impact on street crime. Members however will be considering how the intense resourcing required of both police officers and equipment can best be maintained to continue this
success.

Other issues to be considered by the Members include the MPA Race Equality Scheme, the new MPA Committee Structure and the timetable for 2003/4 Policing and Performance Plan. The Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, will give his regular oral update on current operational policing issues in London, including a report on the violence following the Millwall v. Birmingham football match.

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