Candidate Johnson set the pace on this issue during last year's campaign, especially with regard to youth violence. Some of his messages struck a scare-mongering note, but he was responding to Londoners' genuine concerns. Looking back at his crime manifesto - one of the first he published - he can justly claim to have kept several of his promises, notably increasing the uniformed presence on public transport.
He and Kit Malthouse deserve credit too for raising the profile of the Metropolitan Police Authority, though it's significant that a number of Authority members feel that its full, public meetings don't give them enough chance to question the Met Commissioner, let alone the Mayor who sits in the chair.
Jugde for yourselves by reading the whole document below, but forgive my highlighting this:
It is important for the Mayor to take a public lead, so I will chair the Metropolitan Police Authority. I will take personal responsibility. No offence will be too trivial to demand my attention. No challenge will be so big that I shrug my shoulders and pass the buck.
I think "G20" and sigh. Read Boris's 2008 crime manifesto (pdf) here. It works when I do it...
