Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill

My Lords, I have to say that I do not think the Minister has addressed the central problem. What he is actually doing for the most prominent directly elected individual in the country is reducing that individual’s responsibility for the police service in that area. The Bill removes from the mayor and the MOPC the powers that currently exist. That means that in future the Mayor of London will have less influence over the Metropolitan Police than he and the MPA currently have. That is an extraordinary reversal of what this Bill seems to be about. I find it extraordinary that the Minister’s response has not addressed that central question. Of course, the Metropolitan Police has a national and international function, which is why, exceptionally, it should be a joint appointment rather than simply the appointment of the mayor’s office. That is the concession that ought to be made as far as the national and international functions are concerned. I fail to see why assistant commissioners, who rank as chief officers of police everywhere else in the country, are not part of the responsibility of the mayor’s office. The Government are diminishing the authority of the mayor in respect of policing in London, and that runs directly counter to the Government’s own rhetoric as to what this Bill is about. I urge the Government to consider this in the few remaining days that we have left for the consideration of this Bill. On the basis that I am sure they will wish to do so, and to receive further representations from the Mayor of London on this point, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment 200 withdrawn. Clause 44 : Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis Clause 44 : Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis Amendments 201 and 202 not moved. Clause 46 : Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis Clause 46 : Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis Amendment 203 not moved. Clause 47 : Deputy Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis Clause 47 : Deputy Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis Amendment 204 not moved. Clause 48 : Commanders Clause 48 : Commanders Amendment 205 not moved. Clause 49 : Suspension and removal of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Clause 49 : Suspension and removal of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Amendments 205ZA to 206 not moved. Amendment 206A Moved by