Warning: Sensitive Content
In the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee, Caroline raised with the Commissioner and the Deputy Mayor the issue of child and online protections, and concerns about a much bigger rise in child safeguarding cases as lockdown is eased.
Caroline Pidgeon is urging the Metropolitan Police Service to drop its controversial use of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology, until a whole range of serious concerns about its use are fully addressed.
Caroline Pidgeon has written to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to ask for assurances that, among its other important priorities, the Met will keep a focus on addressing fiancial crimes and fraud.
Caroline wrote:
Caroline has written to the Met Police Commissioner on the subject of potential police resources being used as part of the re-opening of household waste and recycling centres in some boroughs across London.
Caroline wrote:
One option that has been suggested and is being considered is that police officers could be deployed to patrol household waste and recycling centres to support staff in ensuring residents act and queue appropriately and maintain a safe distance.
Caroline Pidgeon has written to the Met Police's Deputy Commissioner to ask for an update on issues around speeding in London during the COVID-19 lockdown and some long-standing concerns on speeding, as well as praising the Met for the quick action they have taken to try and tackle increased speeding since lockdown began.
Caroline Pidgeon has written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to understand the force's plans to keep police officers, staff, detainees and the public safe during the COVID-19 crisis.
Caroline wrote:
There will be many across London who have concerns over the custody environment and the safety of officers, staff and detainees when it comes to the possible transmission of COVID-19 in these environments.
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On the BBC's London Politics, Caroline discussed her concerns about the police's use of stop and search, and the government's plans to increase it.
Caroline Pidgeon described the frustration of London Assembly members that they cannot start investigating the relationship between Jennifer Arcuri and Boris Johnson while he was Mayor, because the Independent Office for Police Conduct has been deliberating since September on whether to launch its own investigation.
Caroline told the Guardian:
In the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee, Caroline questioned the Met Police Commissioner and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime about the use of live facial recognition technology on London's streets.
We need some clarity on what is happening to many of London's police stations, which have had their front counters closed and are at risk of having their land sold off. Unfortunately this week we have heard one thing from the Mayor and another from the Met, and this clip from today's Police and Crime Committee clearly demonstrates this.
