Boris Johnson pledges closer links between police and communities

Boris Johnson has pledged to strengthen the relationship between police and the communities they serve if he becomes Mayor of London.

The Conservative candidate wants to encourage Londoners to get involved in the current consultation on the future of local police stations and announced that, if elected, he will chair the Metropolitan Police Authority which is conducting the review.

In that role, he would ensure that police commanders in each borough hold monthly public meetings which allow residents to comment and ask questions.

"We are told that crime in London is falling. We are told that we have more police officers than ever before. What we are told, and what we as Londoners experience on a daily basis are two very different things. It is time that changed," he said.

Mr Johnson criticised police stations with short opening hours as he announced his plans from outside a police station in the Isle of Dogs.

He said in cases where local police stations are closed because they are no longer fit for purpose, he would insist that the local community gets a better replacement that is open 24 hours a day.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone announced plans in his budget speech on Wednesday for an additional 1,000 police in the capital next year.

Mr Livingstone told the London Assembly: "I am able to confirm that with this budget London will gain an extra 1,000 uniformed police, a major contribution to making our city safer and more secure.

"The results of more police on the beat on local streets are there for all to see - crime in London fell for the fifth consecutive year in 2007."

He said: "The successes in reducing overall crime levels must be extended to tackle the toughest problems like youth gun and knife crime, by both providing the police with the resources they need and by investing in our young people through a massive injection of support for youth provision which will form a major priority for London government."