Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley unveiled his plan for 'A new Met for London' last night at Kingston Met Police's Community Engagement event at the Guildhall. 

The two-year plan attempts to put the needs of the community at the centre of local policing, aiming to create "more trust, less crime and high standards".

Sir Mark Rowley said: "This is a reset moment for us to set ourselves up to be more grounded in local communities as we try to connect and be better in line with diversity."

The backbone of the scheme is to improve public relations and engagement of the police in local communities, increasing their approachability, as well as enhancing quality of their response to crime and victim satisfaction. 

The new plan focusses on community engagement, cultural change and foundational improvements of the force. 

Sir Rowley discussed improving the foundations of the Met from the technology used, to the buildings it owns and touched upon investing in uniforms to provide a sense of dignity. 

On changing Met culture, Sir Rowley said he wanted a "police force that puts the communities first, police force is front-line focussed in picking up those needs to do a great job" as well as inclusive, collaborative and precise in using data. 

Sir Rowley highlighted the targets for fighting crime including ensuring local forces respond to community needs, addressing predatory men and protecting women and girls from violence, and supporting victims and being proactive in tackling the worst offenders in the community. 

Sir Rowley said: "We've lost sight of one key principle which is every police officer should be within a 20-minute walk of their patch. 

"In a bit more than 10% of London's wards that is currently not the case." 

'A New Met for London' plan is the result of consultation with London residents, officers and partners throughout the city.

The event was hosted by Kingston Mayor and was attended by approximately 200 people, including serving Met officers, councillors and Kingston council employees.

Also attending was Police in Command for Kingston, Richmond, Wandsworth and Merton, Claire Helland and Kingston Superintendent Josh Laughton, who organised the event.

More details to follow soon...