Responding to the publication of the Mayor’s draft Police and Crime Plan, Claire Harding, Research Director at Centre for London said:

“The Mayor’s draft strategy and investment in policing are welcome, but we’ve got a long way to go for London to become the safest city anywhere and must work to address hate crime, street harassment, domestic and intimate partner violence.

“Levels of crime and anti-social behaviour are not just about the police: they are shaped by a wide range of factors including deeply entrenched cultural norms, the economic situation, spending on public services – especially youth services – and the ways our places are designed.

“But the Mayor’s powers over these non-police factors are limited, especially when compared to that enjoyed by other global city mayors – London’s leaders need to be given more control of spending and investment to make a bigger difference to crime rates in our city.”