MET MUST GET ITS HOUSE IN ORDER WHEN RECORDING CRIME - FEATHERSTONE

11.31.21am GMT Tue 21st Dec 2004

Commenting on the Audit Commission report that found the Met Police are still not recording crime properly and is among four forces given a red rating in the commission's "traffic light" system, slipping from amber last year, Liberal Democrat Member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, Lynne Featherstone, said:-

"These recording changes were introduced over two years ago, but the Met still hasn't got it right. The Met continues to blame the impact these changes are having for any increases in recorded crime.

"The failure of the Met to record crime properly means that Londoners are unable to judge whether crime in the capital is rising or falling. It is vital that the force gets its house in order, so that people in the city can feel confident that a crime committed against them will be recorded properly and dealt with quickly, efficiently and appropriately."

ENDS

Notes to editor

A copy of the report can be found at http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/

According to the report - Seventeen authorities are now meeting the overall national standard of recording crime and are rated as green. This compares to 12 in 2003. Twenty-two authorities have been rated as amber, compared to 21 in 2003. And four authorities are now categorised as red compared to ten last year. They are Cleveland, Cumbria, Metropolitan, South Yorkshire.