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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Congdon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Metropolitan Police Committee's advice on proposed objectives for the Metropolitan police in 1997-98. [21370] Mr. Howard: Following consultation with the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Committee and the Commissioner, I have approved the following objectives for the Metropolitan police in 1997-98: (i) To increase the security of the capital against terrorism; (ii) to solve at least 20 per cent. of burglaries, 15 per cent. of street robberies and at least maintain at the present level detections for offences of supplying illegal drugs; (iii) to reduce crimes of local concern in identified crime prone areas on every division; (iv) to improve public reassurance through visible, effective patrolling and problem solving; (v) to improve the briefing, tasking and debriefing of operational officers; (vi) to equip operational staff with the management information they need to do their jobs; (vii) to structure our central support services to ensure the best support to operational policing. These objectives and details of how to address the Government's key objectives for policing are set out in the "Metropolitan Police Policing Plan 1997-98" which the Commissioner is issuing with my approval. I will be sending copies to all hon. Members whose constituencies fall wholly or partly within the Metropolitan police district and arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

21370; 292 c595W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Crime prevention Greater London Police Metropolitan Police Standards Detection rates