The Metropolitan Police Commissioner heard first hand grievances about "brushed off" sexual abuse report, and poor responses to hate crimes and violence against women.
Sir Mark Rowley and fellow officers met the community at the Crowndale Centre in Camden on Tuesday night, as part of an effort to launch the force's plan A New Met for London in all 32 boroughs.
The strategy follows a widespread loss of trust in the Met following the murder of Sarah Everard by an officer, which led to revelations about entrenched misogyny and racism.
Residents sat at tables with police officers to talk about their concerns an ideas for community policing, frontline policing and inclusive and collaborative policing.
A panel including the commissioner, Camden & Islington Superintendent Jack Rowlands and Chief Superintendent Andy Carter, BCU Commander for central north London also took part in a question and answer session.
One teenager told the room he had been sexually abused from the age of nine and despite written statements the person went free even though he felt "there was enough evidence to put him behind bars".
Now 16, he said he had post traumatic stress disorder. "I don't know why it was brushed away so fast," he said.
Supt Rowlands said he was "really sorry" about what happened to him and the lack of support he received and said he would work with the Crown Prosecution Service to see what help he could get as well as form partnerships to help others in the future.
Others spoke of hate crimes and violence against women.
The commissioner said that anyone who was assaulted would get "a better quality response" and more support throughout.
"We'll solve more of these cases," he said.
The commissioner told those present the new plan is centred around rebuilding trust, reducing crime, and setting high standards in policing, with a primary focus on community engagement.
"This matters to us and the reason it matters is we want to put community policing at the centre of what we do and we can't do that ourselves," he said.
The plan promises the recruitment of 500 extra Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) into local neighbourhoods and the strengthening specialist teams, with an extra 565 people working with police on investigating domestic abuse, sexual offences, and child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Sir Mark, a former Chief Constable of Surrey Police and Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Met, came out of retirement in September last year to replace former commissioner Cressida Dick.
He said there were "a whole range of failings", including getting data on stolen cars "getting worse and worse" over the last four years, crimes against children being "a massive issue" and failure of hitting 999 targets.
The commissioner said tackling the internal culture and a slip in standards was also a "priority".
"We want to cut the cancer out the body and make the body better and healthier" he said.
The welcome to the plan in the room was cautious.
A 15-year-old told the Ham&High: "If they do make the changes that are necessary, things will get better, but if they leave it as it is, things will stay the same."
Another woman said: "This is a very ambitious plan. I can't see that money for it will be released soon. Resources are the key and right now are very difficult for everyone."
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