§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there has been any progress towards implementing the change to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Police to make them coterminous with the boundaries of the London boroughs. [HL1821]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe change to the boundaries takes effect on 1 April, as planned. The responsibility for policing those parts of Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey which are currently within the Metropolitan Police District will pass from the Metropolitan Police to the respective county forces.
Essex Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Surrey Police, their Police Authorities, and the Metropolitan Police have prepared for the changeover in a thorough and professional manner. A great deal of detailed work has been put in since my right honourable friend the Home Secretary announced the change in June 1998. He commends them for their close co-operation, and he is confident that there will be a smooth transfer of responsibilities. People in the transferring areas need have no concerns about disruption to their local policing service.
The funding for the three county Police Authorities will be increased from April to reflect their enlarged areas. In addition, we are making special payments out of the police grant totalling £10 million to go towards costs arising out of the transfer.
89WAMy right honourable friend the Home Secretary is confident that the benefits of the boundary changes will soon show through. He decided to change the boundaries for three main reasons.
Firstly, it makes it easier for the criminal justice agencies in the area to work together in the fight to reduce crime. Local councils and other agencies will no longer have to work with two different police forces when discharging their responsibilities under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. This is an important step towards aligning boundaries in the criminal justice system, thereby improving efficiency and effectiveness.
Secondly, the change supports a democratic accountability. It gives local people a say, through their county Police Authority, in the way their area is policed. People in the transferring areas will not have a vote in the forthcoming election for London's Assembly members, who will be in the majority on the new Metropolitan Police Authority. It is right that these areas be policed by county forces whose Police Authorities, with councillor members in the majority, already provide local democratic accountability.
Thirdly, the change allows the Metropolitan Police to focus its efforts on the huge task of policing the nation's capital.
The Metropolitan Police have policed the transferring areas since the time of Sir Robert Peel. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the officers and civil staff of the Metropolitan Police who have worked in these areas over the years. They deserve the Government's thanks, and the thanks of the local communities.