The Mayor of London needs to explain why crime has fallen more slowly in London than the rest of the country over the last ten years, the London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee says in its response to the Mayor's draft budget[1].
Between 2003 and 2013 crime fell by 27 per cent in London, compared to 38 per cent across England and Wales and 50 percent in the most similar urban areas[2]. The report questions how continued spending cuts will affect the Met’s chances of hitting the Mayor’s key policing pledges: to reduce crime and increase public confidence by 20 per cent over the 4 years to 2016.
Chair of the Budget and Performance Committee, John Biggs, said;
"We are all pleased that crime has fallen by more than a quarter in London over the last ten years. But, as we probed the Met’s budget for next year, we found that crime has been falling much faster in the rest of the country and nobody seems to know why.
The Mayor has a responsibility to make decisions on London's 17.5 billion pound budget based on evidence, and he needs more data to understand why the Met’s performance lags behind that of forces in other parts of the country.
The causes of crime are varied and complex, but the Mayor must make an effort to understand how to address this ten year trend or there is a clear risk that crime will continue to fall more slowly in London than elsewhere.”
The London Assembly will meet on the 14th of February to make a final decision on whether to amend the budget[3].
Notes for editors:
- Read the full report
- Crime Survey for England and Wales, period ending June 2013
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- The Assembly has the right to amend the Mayor’s budget by a two thirds majority at an annual meeting of the full Assembly. Find out more about the budget setting process
- John Biggs AM, Chair of the Budget and Performance Committee is available for interview – see contact details belw.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
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