Khan’s police plan targets hate crime and terrorism

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a new policing plan, outlining a series of measures aimed at tackling hate crime, supporting victims and boosting the Metropolitan police’s armed anti-terror squad. In the plan, Khan laid out his vision for how the capital will be policed against a backdrop further cuts, over the next four years. The strategy is aimed at ‘tackling a postcode lottery in public safety that means some people and places are more vulnerable to and fearful of crime than others’. In addition to a range of other measures the plan involves launching an online hate crime hub to provide a dedicated response to web based hate crimes and supporting provision of specialist Hate Crime Victims’ Advocates across the city; and working with the government, police and partners to step up efforts to counter radicalisation. Khan commented: “The safety of all Londoners is my first priority, and our city is one of the safest in the world thanks to the hard work and dedication of our police officers. But I want and need it to be even safer. I want every Londoner, regardless of age or background, to have trust and confidence in their local officers and feel that their local concerns are being met, whoever they are and wherever they live. “This Plan restores real neighbourhood policing and puts victims of crime and the most vulnerable Londoners at the heart of what we do. It also sets out our ambitions as we work with the Government to agree a criminal justice devolution deal which will allow us to finally get to grips with tackling the enormous problem of reoffending and ensuring that victims of crime get the support – and the justice – they deserve. “It is a Plan that is frank about the challenges we’re going to face over the next few years. Crime is rising again, our population is booming, and our already tight budgets are in danger of further, potentially devastating Government cuts. As we deliver this strategy over the coming years, I will continue to fight tooth and nail to protect our vital police services and make sure they have the funding they need to keep us safe now and in the future.”