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So. BoJo is the new Mayor of London.
Watching the campaign has been fascinating, as the candidates have articulated the national parties agendas and contextualised them for London.
The Conservatives in particular have pursued an aggressive ‘localism’ agenda.
Policing has been a key plank of that agenda and continues to be so. Boris’s first announcement on taking over……..vowing to cut crime and the ‘scourge’ of minor crime on London’s transport system. According to the TimesOnline Boris held a meeting with the Met Commissioner and demanded tough action on crime. “I made it very clear that I want to see a dramatic reduction in crime, beginning with driving out so-called minor crime, particularly in the areas for which the mayor has responsibility, and above all on public transport,” he said.
While Boris has no power over Sir Ian’s appointment he has apparently told Tory colleagues that he will demand that Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, fires the commissioner if progress is not made in cutting crime.
So, what is the Conservative agenda ? Well, a key plank of it is the local accountability that it believes that ‘crime mapping’ will bring.
The Conservatives like the ‘crime mapping’ concept. They published a document setting out their thoughts on it two weeks ago (here). In essence, they will require all forces to publish their local crime information online on a monthly basis and separately in map form.
This doesn’t mean something quaint based on ordnance survey maps, but something more akin to the American way of mapping. Something interactive, based on Google maps (check out crimereports.com) .
There is a clear wind of change blowing through the Conservatives approach at the moment. Technology and innovation is definitely IN. Check out David Cameron’s recent speech arguing that ‘Innovation must be at the heart of public policy’
Interesting times.
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