§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has completed his review of the management and organisation of the force.
§ Mr. BrittanThe Commissioner has today announced his intention to make far-reaching changes in the organisation and management of the Metropolitan police. He has discussed his plans with me and I have told him that I endorse his approach and objectives.
The object of the changes will be to provide the managerial and organisational structure which will best support the force's strategy and will ensure that its resources are used in the most efficient and effective way. The present structure of 75 divisions, 24 districts, four areas and headquarters will be streamlined; the present areas and districts will be replaced by eight new areas, thus cutting out one level of command. In accordance with the Commissioner's strategy, the focus of policing will be the divisions, whose boundaries will be unchanged.
105WHeadquarters will be reorganised and substantially reduced in size, mainly by devolving functions to divisions or the new areas.
These changes are well designed to improve the quality of service the force is able to offer Londoners, by placing the emphasis firmly on operational policing, responsive to local needs. I believe that they will also provide better value for money.
As police authority, I shall be fully consulted as the plans are progessively implemented.