Statement from Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone

Published by webmaster for Mayor of London's Press Office in Communities

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: 'I want to give my full backing for Sir Ian Blair who is doing a first job in delivering neighbourhood policing to every part of London, raising the visibility of the Met and driving down the fear of crime.

'Thanks to Sir Ian’s leadership, in a few weeks time we will have a local police team in every neighbourhood in London a year ahead of schedule.

'The Daily Mail's campaign against Sir Ian Blair has nothing to do with the quality of policing in London and everything to do with the fact that the Commissioner is engaging all of London’s communities to tackle crime more effectively.'

Ends

Press release issued: March 13 2006