Met Police to target dangerous men using data, says chief

The Met Police will start using data to identify the “most dangerous” men in London who prey on women and children.

The plans aim to target resources at men recently convicted of domestic assault, rape, sexual assault, child sex offences, stalking, and harassment.

It comes amid plans to reform the force following several damning reviews.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley announced the details in a speech on Tuesday, saying the force has “a practical plan for turning things around”.

Speaking at the Institute of Engineering and Technology in Westminster, Sir Mark said: “I expect to be held accountable for how that transformation of London’s police service evolves in the weeks, months and years ahead.”

Sir Mark added the Met would focus on three priorities including “targeting men who perpetuate violence against women and children”, building “the strongest ever neighbourhood policing”, and “taking an increasingly proactive approach to reducing crime”.

He stressed the force would be “cracking down on men who are violent predators”, by adopting “counter terrorism and organised crime” tactics, including using intelligence to build a list of tens of thousands of violent male offenders and to target the 100 most dangerous men.

“Most crimes are committed by a small number of individuals, and a small number of victims and areas are the most impacted by crime,” Sir Mark explained.

In addition, the commissioner highlighted “countless examples” of where the Met’s stop-and-search programme had intercepted criminals, but said the force’s goal was to “create better data” by identifying hotspots of violence in order to minimise unnecessary stop-and-search activity.

It comes after figures from the London mayor’s office last month showed black Londoners are still three times more likely to be stopped by police.

Sir Mark added the plans would also see an “overhaul” of neighbourhood policing, “becoming more visible, more engaged and more responsive to local crime and anti-social behaviour – precisely targeting priorities identified with local people”.

As part of his mission to modernise policing, Sir Mark said the force’s recruitment and pay systems must also be improved to attract officers with “core traditional skills” who also specialise in areas like cyber security and fraud.

The commissioner also emphasised the Met’s progress in making policing more “innovative” and “efficient” such as decisions to issue every officer a mobile phone, put more ‘fast response’ patrol cars on the streets and build a new Met leadership academy.

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan responded to the plans on Twitter, saying: “Sir Mark is right – the Met must change for our communities and for our officers and for our staff who serve them.

“I am committed to holding the Met to account as we work together to build a safer city for all Londoners.”

A draft version of the policing plans is set to be published in the next few days, after which the force will seek community and partner feedback.

A further version of the plan will then be published before April.

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