Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed his mission for policing in London in a plan that aims to deliver ‘More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards.’
The Turnaround Plan identifies how the Met will improve trust and confidence and renew policing by consent. The plan acknowledges that this is a complex task ‘but with focus and commitment, we will succeed.’
Sir Mark Rowley said, “We have condemned the appalling criminality of David Carrick and shared the missed opportunities over many years to have taken action. I know our communities need to see reform in the Met, on issues of standards and culture but also in how we do more to reduce crime.”
With nine priorities, the Turnaround Plan contains that set out a range of medium and long term goals with ambitions to ‘have the strongest ever neighbourhood policing’ and strengthening its work in public protection and safeguarding. There are priorities to raise standards, invest in developing staff, using data and making the most of resources to ‘reinvest where it matters most.’ It looks at its approach to victims to provide a compassionate and effective service as well as a proactive approach to reducing crime. It also states, ‘we will set the frontline up to succeed and build a strong foundation to stabilise and underpin our delivery.’
Determined to win back Londoners’ trust, Sir Mark added, “We can succeed because of the dedicated, honest, often heroic, men and women who are the great majority of the Met. Our work has begun, but I must be candid. We cannot achieve the profound reforms needed quickly or without the ongoing help and support of wider policing, politicians, partner organisations and most of all, communities. Lifting the stone reveals painful truths that will not be resolved overnight, and it is critical that these truths cause none of us to lose our resolve to renew Peel’s vision of policing by consent.”
The Met is consulting on this working draft and is seeking views of the public particularly on its approach to neighbourhood policing, community engagement and diversity and inclusion. A new version of the plan will be published in April.
