Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to help increase public trust in the Metropolitan Police.

The Home Office and police leaders are delivering a series of measures to improve police standards and culture. These include forthcoming changes to regulations to strengthen the police vetting process and police discipline system. These changes will make it easier for the Commissioner to remove officers who do not meet the standards expected of them by Londoners.

The Government welcomes the commitment made within the Metropolitan Police’s New Met for London plan which seeks to understand the diverse needs of Londoners and address recommendations which HMICFRS have highlighted. This must ultimately include cutting crime and rebuilding trust with communities where the Metropolitan police has committed to putting more officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) into local neighbourhoods.

The Mayor of London is ultimately responsible for overseeing the work of the Metropolitan Police Service and holding the Met Commissioner to account for delivering a professional, efficient and effective service to Londoners.