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Mayor's pledge to keep crime down Mayor's pledge to keep crime down
(about 4 hours later)
Ken Livingstone has said he has the track record to cut London's crime rate and pledged to focus on anti-terrorism and murders of young people. Ken Livingstone has said he has the track record to cut London's crime rate as he unveiled his policing manifesto.
London's mayor said he had overseen an increase in police numbers and five years of falling crime rates. Pledging to focus on anti-terrorism and youth murders, London's mayor said he had overseen increased police numbers and five years of falling crime.
In his policing manifesto he promised another 1,000 officers next year. His Tory rival Boris Johnson pledged to make tackling crime his top priority as he outlined plans to help the elderly.
His Liberal Democrat rival Brian Paddick and Conservative candidate for mayor Boris Johnson both say violent crime has soared under Mr Livingstone. Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick, a former police commander, has said he will cut crime by 20% or stand down.
Both Mr Paddick and Mr Johnson say violent crime has soared during Mr Livingstone's eight years as London mayor.
Launching his policing manifesto, Mr Livingstone said he would concentrate on five key areas: counter-terrorism; youth murders; rape and domestic violence; drugs; and ethnic diversity among officers.Launching his policing manifesto, Mr Livingstone said he would concentrate on five key areas: counter-terrorism; youth murders; rape and domestic violence; drugs; and ethnic diversity among officers.
Teenage murdersTeenage murders
He blamed the previous Conservative government for allowing police numbers to fall to 25,000 before he came to office in 2000. He said it had been his decision to finance an extra 6,000 officers and 4,000 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and said crime had fallen for the past five years - by an average of 5.5% in the last three years.
He said it was his decision to finance an extra 6,000 officers and 4,000 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and said crime had fallen for the past five years - by an average of 5.5% in the last three years. He said that record meant he could "entirely realistically" promise to cut crime by at least 6% a year during the next four years.
He said that record meant he could "entirely realistically" promise to cut crime by at least 6% a year over the next four years. Hardcore crimes will not be reduced by gimmicks Ken Livingstone class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7301605.stm">List of mayoral hopefuls
There is no cheap way to reduce crime Ken Livingstone class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7301605.stm">List of mayoral hopefuls But he said while crime generally was going down, the only area with a "serious increase" was "tragic youth murders".
But he said murders of young people were a "critical issue". In 2007, 27 teenagers were murdered in London. So far this year the figure is 11 - including 14-year-old Amro Elbadawi, who was stabbed in West Kilburn on Thursday.
In 2007, 27 teenagers were murdered in London. So far this year the figure is 11. Mr Livingstone promised more money for police intelligence and operations targeted at gangs, as well as an extra 1,000 officers next year for counter-terrorism and neighbourhood policing. Bus crime would be tackled by 11 local "safer transport teams".
Mr Livingstone promised more money for police intelligence and operations targeted at gangs and programmes to keep weapons out of schools. Elderly 'ignored'
He said the Metropolitan Police would get an extra 1,000 officers next year for counter-terrorism and neighbourhood policing and more money for specialist teams dealing with rape.
Bus crime would be tackled by 11 local "safer transport teams".
'No cheap way'
"Hardcore crimes will not be reduced by gimmicks but by building on the methods that have reduced overall crime in London," he said."Hardcore crimes will not be reduced by gimmicks but by building on the methods that have reduced overall crime in London," he said.
"Growing police numbers, the growing experience of the new officers and the roll-out of neighbourhood policing are the most important means that will allow increased targeting of the most serious crime. There is no cheap way to reduce crime." His Conservative rival Mr Johnson has promised to divert funds from the mayor's "publicity budget" to pay for 440 more PCSOs on the buses.
His Conservative rival Mr Johnson has promised to divert funds from the mayor's "publicity budget" to pay for more support officers on the buses. For many older Londoners, a fear of crime prevents them from living their lives fully and freely Boris Johnson
In the Commons on Thursday, he said: "I think Londoners, given the choice between spending £63m on further publicity for the mayor of London or having 440 transport PCSOs on the buses, would rather spend £16m - which is what I am proposing to spend - on the 440 PCSOs on the buses." Also on Friday he outlined his policies to make London more "age friendly", saying elderly people's concerns had been ignored by the current mayor.
Later on Friday he will launch his manifesto for "seniors" - which includes helping older people get around safely. "As mayor I will make it my number one priority to tackle crime and return a feeling of safety to our streets, to ensure that everyone can participate in the life, culture and economy of the greatest city on earth - regardless of their age or the neighbourhood they live in," he said.
"For many older Londoners, a fear of crime prevents them from living their lives fully and freely."
He added he would protect and extend the Freedom Pass so Londoners aged over 60 could use it for free public transport 24 hours a day.
He would also campaign to stop post-office and hospital closures, Mr Johnson added.
Lib Dem candidate Mr Paddick, a former Metropolitan Police commander, said he had 30 years' experience tackling crime and his top priority would be getting guns and knives off London's streets.Lib Dem candidate Mr Paddick, a former Metropolitan Police commander, said he had 30 years' experience tackling crime and his top priority would be getting guns and knives off London's streets.
He has also promised to step down if he does not manage to cut crime by 20% in his first term as mayor. He accuses the mayor of breaking a promise to halve crime and says he will step down if he does not manage to cut crime by 20% in his first term as mayor - equivalent to 5% a year.
Nominations in the mayoral race close on Friday and a full list of candidates is expected later.Nominations in the mayoral race close on Friday and a full list of candidates is expected later.