Huhne: Met can do better

At least 20,000 more violent crimes a year would be solved if the Metropolitan Police's detection rate matched the average for other cities, say the Liberal Democrats.

Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne attacked the Met as he also denounced all forces for allowing "deadwood" officers to rise through the ranks or stay in post while failing to do their job properly.

At his party's rally in Bournemouth, Mr Huhne said the average violent crime detection rate in the West Midlands, Merseyside and Greater Manchester was 48 per cent. It is 36 per cent for the Met.

Lib-Dem analysis shows 20,729 more violent offences would have been solved in 2007/08 if the Met matched other cities.

But the Met said its detection rate had doubled since 2003/04 and that the capital faced unique problems.