Leaflet: Making sure the police service meets the needs of London

What is the MPA?

The Metropolitan Police Authority exists to make sure that London’s police are accountable for the services they provide to people in the capital.

The Authority’s job is to:

• secure continuous improvement in the way policing is provided in London
• increase community confidence and trust in London’s police
• consult with London’s communities to find out what they expect from the police
• oversee management of the police budget
• produce an annual policing plan that sets targets for the police

The MPA has achieved real benefits for the people of London. The Authority's support was crucial to secure the introduction of 630 Safer Neighbourhoods teams across the capital. Each team, made up of police officers and Police Community Support Officers, is dedicated to working in partnership with the community to prevent and reduce anti-social behaviour, crime and the fear of crime.

Planning and managing the annual police budget of over £2.9 billion is one of the Authority’s core responsibilities. About 78% of the budget comes from central government, the rest from council tax raised in London by the Mayor.

The Authority promotes equality and diversity within the police service and is working in partnership to ensure all those who live and work in the capital are treated with respect.

How the MPA works

The MPA has 23 members - i.e. 12 elected London Assembly Members, 4 magistrates and 7 independent members, all appointed for four years.

Each member is closely associated with one of London’s boroughs and is responsible for liaising with local police and others working to reduce crime locally. The Authority believes that working in partnership is the most effective way to achieve our aim of making London the safest city.

Members meet regularly in committee to discuss police policy and monitor performance. They recommend changes that deliver improvements and meet the needs of London’s communities.

Listening to Londoners

A vital part of the MPA’s role is to consult with Londoners about the police, their performance and how this can be improved.

Consultation helps the MPA learn what should be set as priorities for the police in the year ahead.

Ways of consulting include:

• Safer London Panel
  The Authority’s own citizens panel made up of 3,000 people chosen to reflect London’s population. They are asked to give their views on specific issues about how London is policed.
• Community engagement in every borough
  The MPA is committed to ensuring that every borough in London has a means for people to communicate with their local police.

This usually takes the form of a Community Police Consultative Group, but in some areas different methods are being developed.

The MPA takes part in numerous events and organises community engagement programmes across the capital. Details of these events are published on our website.

MPA public meetings

MPA committee meetings are open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend. Dates, times and reports for these meetings are published on the MPA website and are also available from public libraries.

The public meeting room is wheelchair accessible and has a loop system. Special facilities, including BSL interpreters and palantypists, can be provided by prior arrangement.

The Metropolitan Police Authority:

• achieving real benefits for London
• making the police accountable to Londoners
• working in partnership to make London the safest major city in the world

To contact the MPA - General enquiries

Metropolitan Police Authority
10 Dean Farrar Street
London
SW1H 0NY

Tel: 020 7202 0202
Fax: 020 7202 0200
Minicom: 020 7202 0173
email: enquiries@mpa.gov.uk

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