How New York leads the way

THOUGH they have similar budgets and oversee similar populations, the police forces of New York and London are markedly different.

The New York Police Department has 40,000 officers – 25 per cent more than the Metropolitan Police’s 32,000. As its murder rate surges ahead of New York’s, London is to lose another 562 this year.

Another key difference is the cities’ approach to low-level offences. Under the so-called ‘broken windows’ policy in the 1990s, the NYPD flooded problem areas with patrols – making small-time criminals less likely to progress on to more serious offending. In London, by contrast, many low-level crimes are no longer investigated – to cut costs.

The NYPD has also emphasised community policing to build bridges with the public, whereas the Met has eroded neighbourhood initiatives.