Statement by Len Duvall, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, to mark the Commissioner’s first year

07/06
1 February 2006

It is important that we acknowledge and recognise both the challenges and the achievements of Sir Ian Blair and his management team during his first year in office.

We should not allow dramatic, and sometimes tragic events like the shooting of Mr de Menezes, to deflect attention from the solid, day to day focus on our core business - making London safer for all our communities. Of course Sir Ian and his management colleagues must and will learn the lessons from mistakes as well as building on remarkable operational successes.

The overall thrust of the Met’s strategy during this time has been to cut crime. Major reforms have been implemented in the way the Met deals with serious crime networks and in the fight against terrorism. New communications systems have also been put in place to improve the Met’s response to fighting crime in London. 

The London-wide rollout of Safer Neighbourhood teams has impacted on public reassurance to the extent that the Met has accelerated the rollout so that every ward in London will have its own team by the end of the next financial year. The 280 teams currently on our streets have made over 7,000 arrests and issued 4000 antisocial behaviour orders. Londoners who already have a Safer Neighbourhood team have told us they are more satisfied with their local policing and feel more informed about police activities.

Other successful strategies have included:

• Operation Halifax, which rounded up over 900 prolific burglars;
• criminal asset confiscation worth £33 million;
• murder clear up rates at 93%; and
• Operations Trident and Trafalgar, which resulted in gun criminals receiving a total of 708 years imprisonment. 

The MPA has worked together with the Commissioner and his management team to implement a modernisation agenda. This has included C3i, a new pan-London communications system, and undertaking a comprehensive review across the whole of the Met to redirect people and resources back to the front line. The Met now has the highest number of police officers in its history and has recruited over 2000 Police Community Support Officers.

Real benefits have been achieved by the Commissioner and his management team for the people of London. There has been steady progress in implementing reforms in the Met, but in the coming year further changes will take place to improve the service provided to Londoners. 

The MPA, together with the Commissioner and his team, will continue to concentrate on making London a safer city for all.

Notes to editors

1. Sir Ian Blair was appointed Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis by HM The Queen on the advice of the Home Secretary, following the unanimous recommendation of the Metropolitan Police Authority appointment panel. He took up his new responsibilities on 1 February 2005. 

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback