Commanders 'should use council tax raised locally'

Police borough commanders in London should be able to spend money raised locally from council tax, an influential think-tank said today.

Policy Exchange, the centre-right group behind some of Boris Johnson's key initiatives, said allowing them to keep the precept would give the commanders more power to tackle crime locally and improve links between them and local authorities.

The £665 million-a-year police precept goes to the Metropolitan Police Authority, which distributes it to the boroughs.

However, the suggested move could benefit wealthier areas, such as Mr Johnson's key support base in the suburbs, at the expense of poorer parts of inner London where crime is a bigger problem.

In a pamphlet on what the Mayor should do next, Policy Exchange also suggested:

Making the Met Commissioner directly accountable to the Mayor.
Stripping the Met of national counterterrorism responsibilities; incorporating British Transport Police into its ranks.
Encouraging councils to use their powers - in education and liquor and public entertainment licensing - to full effect.

Separately, Ealing Tory councillor Phil Taylor urged the Mayor to renegotiate the £16 billion Crossrail project's terms so central Government shared the burden.