The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and the London Assembly held a reception at City Hall on Thursday to thank individuals who give their time to help the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).
More than 200 guests from the Met Volunteer Programme attended the reception where awards were presented to he longest serving volunteers volunteers from Bexley, Hillingdon and Bromley.
As well as Met volunteers the event was attended by members of the MPA, the London Assembly and senior officers and staff from the MPS.
Keynote speeches were made by Sir Paul Stephenson, acting MPS Commissioner, who highlighted the successes of the MVP across London over the past year, and Boris Johnson, Mayor of London and Chair of the MPA, who praised the efforts of Met volunteers and the benefits of their dedicated contribution.
The evening was hosted by Jeanette Arnold, Chair of the London Assembly, who said: “Met Volunteers selflessly give their time and effort to improve the quality of life in their communities and the London Assembly is delighted to acknowledge their very great achievements. It is heartening to realise that so many Londoners are committed to making a difference. We owe a debt of gratitude to all those who contribute to making London a safer place to live – they set an example to us all.”
Boris Johnson, Chair of the MPA, said: ‘I am immensely grateful to the wonderful volunteers who give their time freely to help the Met Police make London a safer city for us all. They deserve our unstinting thanks and I’m proud to meet them today. Like most people I’m humbled and amazed by their commitment and the tremendous difference they make to people’s lives and I’d like to encourage more Londoners to give some of their free time to help others.”