• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

I am sure he will cost everything when he produces his manifesto. However, I would say that one of the difficulties, while it is a very good idea, is if you split it between the three-shift system it still is a very low level of policing. What communities have always been calling for is local policing. For example, in Crouch End at night, in Muswell Hill at night, the High Street at night, it is not about the eight hours, it is about the 24 hours really, or at least 20. Would the Mayor agree with me that the Step...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

All I will say is that the Labour Executive member in Haringey was very pleased to be mentioning them and obviously very welcoming of Crouch End. But obviously, local policing is the right way and I am sure the Mayor is aware that Simon Hughes' minimum policing guarantee is about eight local officers.

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

Actually Crouch End and White Hart Lane are already announced as the Step Change areas in Haringey, so I do not know why Nicky is still asking about them, but there you go.

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

I wondered if you would join me and support me in making representations to the Commissioner to encourage consideration of two pilot areas in Haringey. Haringey, as you know, has very challenging issues to face in dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour and I want to put forward with your support two pilot neighbourhoods, White Hart Lane and Crouch End. So, I am asking if you will support those for Step Change in Haringey?

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

Yes, I think it can be a problem with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras reporting to different control centres, for example. Do you support town centre drinking bans? There are quite a lot of district centres and town centres where alcohol abuse heavily contributes to the problem of public nuisance. Do you think we need to have more local-area alcohol strategies?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

What about the point about consulting with local communities?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

I am sure he will.

• Question by: Diana Johnson
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

I am just wanting to press you a little further on this because there is this tension with the large number of new recruits coming into the police force and having those people on the frontline, dealing with the public on a day-to-day basis. I just wondered if you have any thoughts about providing additional support, perhaps that we have not had before, to make sure those officers are well supported in the early years.

• Question by: Diana Johnson
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

I would like to ask a question about the practicalities of this scheme and it has certainly come to my attention that there is a shortage of sergeants in London, who would provide supervision for the officers and the PCSOs in the step-change programme. I just wondered what discussions you have had with stakeholders about how some of the problems with lack of sergeants could be addressed, through looking at changes to rank structures, for instance, about who is actually supervising officers?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 19 November 2003

That's a relief! Well that is a start.