Boroughs spend 50 million on community safety - but have insufficient say on local policing

London Councils Press Releaseon 12 May 2009

London's boroughs are spending £50 million a year on initiatives to keep their local communities safe, while still having insufficient say on how their boroughs are policed, a survey carried out by London Councils has revealed.

The survey shows that boroughs are paying towards more than 300 police community support officers and around 60 police posts, as well as a number of dedicated teams and units aimed at making communities safer.

However, London Councils is concerned that despite this substantial support to police work, boroughs still have insufficient say in how issues causing the most concern to their local communities are tackled by the police.

London's boroughs are committed to ensuring the capital is a safe place to live, work and visit. London Councils is calling for local authorities to play a greater role in helping make the police more accountable to their local communities, including through the joined-up commissioning of local policing budgets and community safety initiatives.

The London Councils survey showed that:

- Brent Council has pledged to fund 16 community support officers until at least 2011

- The Safer Croydon Partnership funds 18 projects, focusing on projects ranging from gang-related violence and drug dealing to supporting vulnerable young people and victims of crime

- Kensington and Chelsea Council pays more than £1.5 million towards funding 76 community support officers

- Ealing Council is investing £1 million to fund 50 community support officers

London Councils Executive Member for Crime and Public Protection, Cllr Jason Stacey, said: "Boroughs are committed to ensuring the capital is a safe place to live, work and visit and are paying vast sums of money to help achieve this. However, despite pumping £50 million into community safety initiatives, councils across London have insufficient say in how their borough is policed.

"It is important that the police, local authorities and other organisations work closely together if we are going to make any real lasting impact on tackling crime and improving the lives of our local communities.

"To achieve this we firmly believe boroughs must be given the ability to help share their knowledge and experience to help the police become more accountable to Londoners and boroughs."

The findings are based on responses from all 33 London local authorities to a survey carried out by London Councils. Full details of the survey are available by contacting London Council's press office.

Through the Policing and Crime Bill, London Councils is pressing for councils to have a role in the joined-up commissioning of local policing budgets and community safety initiatives and for borough police commanders to be part of the local council's senior management team.

Other proposals include councillors being represented directly on the Metropolitan Police Authority board and for more co-ordination between the police and councils on consulting with and holding meetings for local residents.