• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

VIDEO: Boris’s new policing deputy flunks first outing

June 21, 2012 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Stephen Greenhalgh is the new Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime
Boris Johnson’s new Deputy Mayor for Policing angered London Assembly members this morning by “advising” Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe not to appear before them.

Stephen Greenhalgh told Assembly Members he thought Hogan-Howe was too busy to appear before the Police and Crime Committee which scrutinises the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).

Greenhalgh’s stance directly contradicted the stance of the previous police Deputy Kit Malthouse who told this site in January: “While I’m Deputy Mayor for Policing and Boris is Mayor it would be inconceivable that the commissioner will not accept an invitation to appear in front of the Assembly and answer questions.”

AMs were told of Hogan-Howe’s non-appearance just 8 minutes before the start of this morning’s meeting.

During the meeting Greenhalgh appeared under briefed and was unable to answer questions, including those from Green Party AM Jenny Jones on the HMIC report which found offers acted outside their terms of reference by having sex with those under surveillance.

Speaking after the meeting committee chair Joanne McCartney said: ““When the new arrangements for policing in London were established the then Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime said that it would be inconceivable that the Commissioner would not accept an invitation to appear before the Assembly.

“Sadly today his successor has prevented London’s elected representatives from hearing directly from the capital’s chief of police.”

On Twitter LibDem AM Caroline Pidgeon said: “I think after his performance today [the Deputy Mayor] may realise why he needs Met by his side.”

Ms Jones said: “Today’s performance from the new Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime was a shambles. With 36 days to go before the Olympics the Deputy Mayor said he had not been briefed on policing for the Games and was unable to answer even simple questions on the policing issues Londoners care about, which highlighted the need to have the Commissioner present to be held to account.

“After today I think the Deputy Mayor will have a long way to go before Londoners fully trust that he has a firm grip on the Met and isn’t leaving a worrying gap in the Mayor’s accountability on policing.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.