Mayor of London unveils plan to rebuild trust in MPS

Published following consultation with nearly 4,000 Londoners, victims of crime, community groups and businesses, the plan sets out the key priorities and objectives for policing in the capital over the next three years.

While Mr Khan said his “number one priority” is to make London safer, much of the plan is dedicated to his “determination to drive the changes and reforms needed within the Met Police”, after the force endured a series of scandals which prompted the resignation of Commissioner Dame Dame Cressida Dick. The search is under way for her successor.

“We appreciate that public trust has been affected by a series of deeply concerning incidents that have called into question the culture and standards of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),” Mr Khan said.

“When trust is eroded, it makes it harder to tackle crime, with victims failing to report crime and witnesses discouraged from coming forward when they see criminal activity.”

Incidents highlighted in the plan include the murder of Sarah Everard by MPS constable Wayne Couzens in March last year, and the revelation that officers at Charing Cross police station sent racist and misogynistic messages to one another.

Mr Khan said: “These issues must be confronted and addressed – not only for the benefit of Londoners, but also for the tens of thousands of dedicated, caring and professional police officers and staff who have been badly let down by the appalling behaviour and misconduct of others.”

Among the plan’s measures to restore public trust are the increased scrutiny of the MPS’s disciplinary processes and the development of community-led training for officers.

The plan noted Mr Khan’s full support of the inquiry into the issues raised by Ms Everard’s murder, “which has deeply impacted the confidence of Londoners – particularly women and girls”. An updated strategy on tackling violence against women and girls is due to be published in the coming weeks.

To achieve the plan’s primary goal of making London safer, Mr Khan said “we will continue to focus on reducing violent crime and addressing its underlying causes”.

A major focus towards this will be the adoption of a “public health approach towards violence”, which emphasises early intervention and prevention as well as basing decisions on data and evidence.

Other key targets identified in the plan are improving support for victims of crime and protecting people from exploitation and harm.

Following the publishing of the mayor’s Police and Crime Plan, Dame Cressida said that while there is “always more to do to tackle crime and to do so while maintaining our communities’ trust and confidence”, she was confident that “with the right financial and public support, the exceptional men and women of the Met will continue to make this great city even safer”.

Labour’s London Assembly policing and crime spokesperson, Unmesh Desai, said: “A series of horrific events and scandals have rocked Londoners’ trust and confidence in the Met Police and let down the many dedicated officers who serve our capital with integrity. I am pleased this plan makes it a priority to confront the toxic culture that exists in some parts of the Met and the glaring problems with its current disciplinary procedures.

“There is also a key focus on improving the way officers engage with their communities to rebuild broken relationships. The new Commissioner must waste no time in showing leadership on all of this and taking up the recommendations of the Baroness Casey review as soon as it is published. It is also important that the plan has put the delivery of better victim support at its heart and commits to continuing the progress made on clamping down on violent crime.

“Online fraud is also ruining the lives of too many Londoners and it is encouraging to see investment and a strategy included to improve the Met’s response to this surging and complex crime”.

The plan attracted criticism from some who claimed it lacked detail.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation which represents more than 30,000 rank-and-file officers, told the PA news agency: “We have no issue with change within the police. If it is for the good of policing, we are all for it. But there is no detail.”

He accepted public trust “is an issue and it has been eroded by these horrific incidents that have taken place”, but he said it is “disingenuous to keep playing it out so publicly over and over again”, as he asked: “What do you achieve from that?

“I don’t want people in the Metropolitan Police, or in any police service, who are not delivering, who are dishonest, who are wrong…But 99.9 per cent of my 32,500 colleagues are working tirelessly. Why doesn’t the mayor talk about our pay and conditions, which have been eroded so horrendously over the last 15 years?”

The plan acknowledges the “vast majority” of Met officers and staff do an “excellent, professional and dedicated job for Londoners”, adding the mayor will back their “vital work” and do “everything possible to ensure they have the funding they need”.

London Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman said the plan shows “clear acknowledgement that public trust and confidence have been damaged and urgently need to be rebuilt” and “rightly prioritises the rights and needs of victims”.

Councillor Jas Athwal, London Councils’ executive member for crime and public protection, welcomed the plan, saying: “London needs a police service that is fair, trusted, diverse and effective.”