Assembly wants London Policing Board dissolved
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee, which represents Londoners through democratically elected Members, is not regularly attended by senior police leaders.
Today, the London Assembly highlighted that it is contrary to the spirit of the Greater London Authority for undemocratically appointed persons on the London Policing Board to scrutinise the Mayor and has called for it to be dissolved, with a return to the previous system of cross-party scrutiny and accountability.
Susan Hall AM, who proposed the motion, said:
“The Police and Crime Committee is vital for providing important scrutiny of the Metropolitan Police and other bodies responsible for tackling crime in London.
“The London Policing Board has taken away from the work of the PCC and has denied the Committee - which is the democratic body of the two - the ability to access senior authorities responsible for policing.
“I’m pleased the Assembly has backed my motion calling on the Board to be scrapped.”
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly recognises the importance of accountability and scrutiny in the governance of all public bodies and services.
This Assembly is concerned that scrutiny of the Metropolitan Police Service and the Police and Crime Commissioner is not being conducted in a fair or democratic manner.
This Assembly notes that the Police and Crime Committee, which represents Londoners through democratically elected Members, is not regularly attended by senior police leaders.
This Assembly further notes that the London Policing Board (LPB) fails to provide transparent or effective scrutiny of the Police and Crime Commissioner, and that its membership, appointed by the Mayor, does not adequately represent the democratic voice of Londoners.
Since the LPB has been established, the democratically elected Committee has not received regular attendance from senior police leaders, thereby undermining its ability to conduct effective scrutiny.
This Assembly highlights that it is contrary to the spirit of the Greater London Authority for undemocratically appointed persons to scrutinise the Mayor.
This Assembly therefore calls for the London Policing Board to be dissolved, with a return to the previous system of cross-party scrutiny and accountability which functioned successfully for over 10 years.
The meeting can be viewed via webcast or YouTube.
Follow us @LondonAssembly.
Notes to editors
- The motion was agreed by 10 votes for and 8 votes against.
- Susan Hall AM, who proposed the motion, is available for interview.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Alison Bell in the Assembly Media Office on 07887 832 918 / [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.