Now that the Flanagan Review has set out the pros and cons of various forms of local democratic accountability, London Councils is calling on government to be bold and move quickly to reduce the accountability gap between the police and the communities

Now that the Flanagan Review has set out the 'pros and cons' of various forms of local democratic accountability, London Councils is calling on government to be bold and move quickly to reduce the accountability gap between the police and the communities they serve.

The capital suffers from an extraordinary policing governance structure that does not allow directly elected Councillors to influence policing in their own boroughs.

This situation is ludicrous. The Home Office must act now and use the upcoming Green Paper to enable London's Councillors to influence the policing of the communities they represent. This would allow them to implement such popular ideas as local police commissioners and elected neighbourhood boards.

Such moves would make policing more responsive to local people and their communities. It would also enable the electorate to hold the governors of their local police force to account if crime levels escalate within their neighbourhoods.

Cllr Ian Clement

London Councils executive member for crime and public protection