Green Party Criticises Metropolitan Police’s New Three-Year Plan
The Metropolitan Police Service’s freshly unveiled strategy for the coming three years has faced immediate backlash from a senior member of the London Assembly. Zoë Garbett AM, representing the Green Party, expressed her concerns during a consultation session for the “A New Met for London Phase 2” initiative.
Concerns Over Transparency
In her remarks, Garbett urged the Met to improve its communication with London residents regarding its shortcomings since the initial “A New Met For London” strategy. She highlighted that a lack of transparency hinders the police force’s credibility, echoing sentiments expressed by Baroness Casey, who stated that the Met appears to have lost public trust.
Garbett pointed out that the refusal to share real-time information about operational failures contributes to the perception that the Met no longer has the community’s consent to enforce the law. She emphasised, “The MPS must be transparent about its failures, in all areas, if it wants to move forward.”
Rollback on Promised Services
Moreover, Garbett took issue with the police service’s retreat from previously assured commitments, such as maintaining at least one 24-hour front counter in every borough. She questioned the integrity of the new plan, suggesting that the Met’s past actions cast doubt on their current pledges.
“With the MPS showing that they are willing to undo things that they had previously said they were going to achieve, why should anyone believe that the MPS is committed to doing what it says in this new document?” Garbett stated.
Importance of Public Engagement
This criticism raises significant issues regarding the future of policing in London, particularly how the Metropolitan Police can rebuild trust with the public it serves. The consultation for the new plan remains open until 14 September 2025, allowing for further community feedback and engagement.
To read Garbett’s full response or to participate in the consultation, Londoners can access the documents online.
Source: official statements, news agencies, and public reports.
https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/london-assembly-members/zoe-garbett/new-met-police-plan-lacks-both-transparency-and-commitment-says-green-am
