HC Deb 15 April 1993 vol 222 cc940-1
10. Sir Michael Neubert

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to discuss the level of crime in the capital.

Mr. Charles Wardle

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to meet the Commissioner.

Sir Michael Neubert

Can my hon. Friend confirm that he is aware of the concern of my constituents and many like them about the relatively small number of criminals who are caught and charged and, of those who are apprehended, the less than satisfactory number who are convicted and adequately sentenced? Can he give my constituents some reassurance that the challenge of crime will continue to be tackled with the vigour and rigour that it demands?

Mr. Wardle

I understand the concern that my hon. Friend expresses; no doubt he will be pleased to hear that Operation Bumblebee—[HON. MEMBERS: "Bunglebee]. Operation Bumblebee, which is a very successful operation, has recently been launched in the Romford area. My hon. Friend will also be aware that sector policing is proving successful in the Romford area, and no doubt he will welcome the fact that there is a dedicated anti-burglary squad there, too, whose clear-up rate is better than the metropolitan average. No doubt he will also welcome the fact that 6,000 uniformed posts have been added to the Metropolitan police since 1979.

Mr. Soley

Does the Minister appreciate that he has already devised a new name for Group 4? Leaving that aside, does he agree that the best form of crime prevention in London is that devised by local authorities working in co-operation with the police, which will take place only if we have a proper accountable police force in London under local authority control, such as exists in all other local democracies? Why are the Government the only people now holding out against that proposal?

Mr. Wardle

If the hon. Gentleman thinks that the answer is more local authority control he should realise that that would simply lead to a whole lot of political posturing. He ought to await eagerly my right hon. and learned Friend's proposals for a new police authority for London which will genuinely increase accountability and support the work being done by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

Sir John Wheeler

Will my hon. Friend confirm that when the Home Secretary meets the new Commissioner of the Metropolitan police he will ask him to ensure that there is a clearly stated policy within the Metropolitan police area for the control of burglary and auto crime, and that the small minority of offenders who persistently commit large numbers of such offences is targeted?

Mr. Wardle

I am sure that my right hon. and learned Friend will discuss that priority with the Commissioner. My right hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) will also appreciate that the new Commissioner has set out plans to release 700 officers from headquarters unit out into local units within Greater London in order to tackle precisely the problems that my right hon. Friend describes.