London's New Top Cop Insists Gang Problem Is Improving
18 April 2017, 08:15 | Updated: 18 April 2017, 09:56
In her first broadcast interview since becoming Met Police Commissioner, Cressida Dick told Nick Ferrari that London's gang problem is a lot better than it was 10 years ago.
Responding to a caller who praised her appointment but then put Dick on the spot about foreign gangs, the capital's top cop admitted to Nick Ferrari that she doesn't know how many gangs are operating in London right now.
"Do we have any idea how many gangs are operating in London right now?" asked Nick. "It's quite frightening, do you know the number?"
Dick responded: "I'm afraid I don't know the number."
"200 odd they reckon," said Nick. "What are we going to do about that?"
Telling Nick that number wouldn't suprise her, Dick was then asked why so much more was spent by the police on phone hacking investigations than on an operation to tackle gangs in London.
While she took Nick's point about the danger posed by a gang member vs that posed by a tabloid journalist, Dick wanted listeners to know that in her view, London has become a much safer city.
"I would say actually the gang problem in London is both different and in some respects less serious than it was when I was working against it 10 years ago."
During the phone-in, Dick also gave her views on the controversial Stop and Search policy and indicated that she may not agree with the Prime Minister on it:
