The London Assembly, the 25-member cross party body tasked with holding the Mayor to account, has written to Sadiq Khan urging him to undertake a rapid review to make sure that London’s emergency services have all the necessary equipment, plans and training in place in the event of any widespread summer disorder.
Chair of the London Assembly Police & Crime Committee, Unmesh Desai AM, said:
“COVID-19 has caused upheaval and uncertainty on an unparalleled scale. Many people across the capital have been furloughed whilst many others are facing real risks of redundancy, which is inevitably causing stress, anxiety and disquiet.
“The effects of the economic and social challenges facing our city, combined with the warm weather may well, in the coming weeks, lead to rising tensions, which has already been highlighted by a number of senior police officers.
“The London Assembly would like to be reassured that the Mayor is working with civic and community leaders and the Met Police, to help prevent any disorder happening in the first instance and ensure that contingency plans are put in place to deal with potential public disorder.”
Notes to editors
- The letter is attached.
- Unmesh Desai AM, Chair of the Police & Crime Committee is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Police & Crime Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Aoife Nolan on 020 7983 4067. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.