Howard: I'll put Mayor in charge of Met

Michael Howard today promised to give London's Mayor huge new powers to run the capital's police force.

In a keynote speech he vowed to scrap the unelected Metropolitan Police Authority and hand its role to the Mayor.

The Tory leader said the battle against crime could only be won if a single individual with the backing of the public was put in command, like a general going into battle.

He promised to "take back the street corners, the alleys, the bus stops and the carp parks where thugs are still in control".

For most police forces that would mean elected police "commissioners", replacing the current system of oversight by councillors, magistrates and other appointees.

In London's case, the Mayor is seen as best placed to take on the role - creating the paradox of Labour's Ken Livingstone being promised more influence by Mr Howard than Tony Blair is prepared to allow him.

"The clearest line of accountability is to a single individual - a person who sits behind a desk with a sign that says, 'I'm responsible, the buck stops here'," the Opposition leader said in Manchester.

"The current system does not work. Imagine the galvanising effect of a contest between two or three candidates, each of whom published a manifesto to which local people could hold them."

Mr Howard said it was impossible to find people who could name a single member of the current police authorities.

The Metropolitan Police Authority, which has 23 members, was set up by Labour in July 2000 and comprises 12 appointed councillors, four magistrates and seven independent members.

Under the Tory plan, London's Mayor would not choose a successor to Sir Ian Blair, t he Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Because of Sir Ian's special responsibilities for security and counter-terrorism, that power would remain with the Home Secretary

Former Conservative mayoral candidate Steve Norris based his campaign on a pledge to clamp down on law and order.

Mr Howard's new twist was his vision of " ordinary people" being elected as police commissioners - although critics said this would be difficult to prevent politicians in effect taking over the Conservatives' new bodies.

The Tory leader said his plan will "restore confidence" in the police and "give police officers the confidence to come down hard on every kind of crime and disorder.".

He added: "When I was Home Secretary, I had a clear mandate to beat crime. When Rudy Giuliani was elected Mayor of New York, he had a clear mandate to beat crime. In Britain, Ray Mallon was elected with a clear mandate to beat crime."

Describing rising crime as a "disease", Mr Howard said: "Cutting crime is all a matter of confidence.

"It's about having the confidence to say enough is enough. The rights of our communities come before so-called human rights. If you cross the line between right and wrong there will be consequences."