Press Release

Survey shows Londoners feel safer and housing is top priority for improvement
22-1-2008   044

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has today published the latest Annual London Survey. The Ipsos MORI survey, commissioned by the Greater London Authority, has found that 86 per cent of Londoners say they enjoy living in the capital even though it may not be perfect – a rise of five points since 2004.

The top issue concerning Londoners is the cost of housing. They want to see the capital’s lack of affordable housing tackled to make it easier for people to get on the housing ladder. For the second year running, affordable housing has overtaken crime and safety as Londoners top issue. More than eight out of ten people say the cost of housing is a problem affecting their quality of life (83 per cent).

Crime remains an important issue for Londoners, but there has been a four-point drop since last year in the number of people who want to see tackling crime as a top priority for improving the city. There has been a six point drop in fear of crime compared to last year. In the past seven years, feeling of safety in the local neighbourhood after dark has risen 11 per cent to more than six out of ten people saying they feel safe. These figures correspond to data showing a steady fall in crime as a result of more police officers being deployed in local areas throughout the capital.

In line with this, 30 per cent of people say they have seen more police in their local neighbourhood in the past year – a rise of six points since 2005 – and three quarters of these people say the increased police presence has helped them to feel safer (74 per cent). Satisfaction with the Police has risen 10 per cent since 2003.

The poll shows steadily growing satisfaction with transport in London as a result of large-scale investments over the last seven years. Thirty per cent of Londoners want to see improvements made to the Tube, but this has fallen as a priority by eight points since 2005. There has also been a steady fall in the number of people citing traffic congestion as one of the worst things about living in London.

The top environmental concern is pollution from traffic, with 65 per cent of people considering this a problem. Litter is also an issue, with half of people saying that this is a problem. However more than a third of people consider London to be a clean city and 46 per cent believe that London is an environmentally friendly city.

Londoners have a strong sense of identity with the city, as three quarters of people surveyed said that 'London is a place I identify with’. London’s cultural diversity is enjoyed by 82 per cent of people in the capital and two thirds of Londoners believe there are good relations between different racial ethnic and religious communities. Three quarters of people - 76 per cent - agree that the city is tolerant of gay and lesbian people – a rise of 10 points since 2004.

Satisfaction with the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone is at 44 per cent, the highest level since the survey began in 2000. Dissatisfaction is at 22 per cent giving a net satisfaction rating of +22.

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London said:

‘With so many Londoners struggling to get a foot on the property ladder it is not surprising that housing is the number one priority for improving the city.

‘I am determined to tackle London’s housing crisis by ramping up the construction of new homes and sticking with the tough policy requiring that 50 per cent of all new housing must be affordable housing.

‘The survey shows the importance of tackling crime and the fact that we are making measurable progress as we have recruited thousands more police officers and developed local policing in every neighbourhood.

‘My budget proposals for the next financial year will aim to tackle the most resistant crime problems, knife and gun crime amongst our young people. This will be supported by the first investment in services for young Londoners in a generation with £79 million to provide youth activities and clubs to get kids off the streets.

‘It is significant that while transport remains a key issue for Londoners, it has steadily fallen as one of the worst things about the city as the results of billions of pounds of investment, starting with the transformation of bus services, have come on stream.

‘London remains the most open city in the world with the great majority of Londoners positively enjoying the dynamism which the mix of different communities brings to the capital. London shows that multi-culturalism works and the 60 per cent fall in racist attacks, unlike the national trend, shows that our culture of tolerance and mutual respect is the only way forward for diverse cities in the 21st century.’

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. These results are based on a survey conducted by Ipsos MORI between 4 October and 3 December 2007. A total of 1,434 interviews were conducted with a representative sample of Londoners aged 16+. Data are weighted to reflect the known profile of Greater London.
2. The survey is available from the Mayor's Press Office; top-line results are published on the website.

For further information please contact Rebecca Miller 020 7983 4754 or Hasina Momtaz on 020 7983 4064.

For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000

For non-media enquiries please call the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100

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