News from London Assembly Labour

Tory police proposals would lead to less accountability, not more

Labour’s policing spokesperson on the London Assembly, Joanne McCartney, has spoken out against shadow home secretary Chris Grayling’s proposals for elected police commissioners.

Labour’s policing spokesperson on the London Assembly, Joanne McCartney, said: “Of course the police need to be held to account, but this would lead to less accountability, not more. Senior officers are rightly resisting this and I don’t think there is much public appetite to see Boris Johnsons up and down the country running the police. The idea that we go down the American route of commissioners, mayors and politicians all trying to out tough each other with one eye on their next election is deeply worrying.”

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling proposed that that London Mayor Boris Johnson be the first elected police commissioner as part of plans to scrap police authorities and replace them with an elected individual.

Other news from London Assembly Labour

• Mayor still refuses to act against banned councillor - 5 March 2010
• Banned councillor: London Labour leader calls on Mayor to act - 25 February 2010
• Boris's broken promise "a huge blow to the Tories' plans for elected police commissioners" - 23 February 2010