HC Deb 26 March 1996 vol 274 c500W
Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received the Metropolitan police committee's advice on proposed objectives for the Metropolitan police in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [23239]

Mr. Howard

Yes. Following consultation with the chairman of the Metropolitan police committee and the commissioner, I have approved the following objectives for the Metropolitan police in 1996–97:

  1. (i) To improve performance against robbery, in particular:
    1. (a) to achieve a detection rate for street crime of atleast 15 per cent.;
    2. (b) to increase the detection rate for robbery of business property to 20 per cent.;
  2. (ii) To improve performance against burglary by achieving a detection rate for burglary of at least 20 per cent.
  3. (iii) To reduce the supply of illegal drugs and the demand for them, including a specific target to increase the number of detections for the production of, supply of, and intent to supply controlled drugs by at least 10 per cent;
  4. (iv) To provide high visibility policing so as to reassure the public, including a specific target to recruit 800 new special constables;
  5. (v) To deliver the standards defined in the Metropolitan police service charter;
  6. (vi) To improve performance against crime by achieving a detection rate for notifiable offences of at least 20 per cent.

These objectives and details of how to address the Government's key objectives for policing are set out in the Metropolitan police policing plan 1996–97, which the commissioner is issuing with my approval. I am sending copies of all right hon. and hon. Members whose constituencies fall wholly or partly within the Metropolitan police district, and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.