Bratton to help London clean up crime

Daily Mail
Article Last Updated: 05/08/2008 12:12:44 PM PDT


Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton has a new consulting job helping the mayor of London fight crime. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

The man who cleaned up the streets of New York is to help mastermind Boris Johnson's crime crackdown in London, The Daily Mail reports.
U.S. police chief Bill Bratton will advise the new Tory mayor on how 'zero tolerance' of graffiti, fare-dodging and other minor crimes can prevent more serious offending.

The move underlines Mr Johnson's determination to wage war on youth violence and anti-social behaviour.

It chimes with David Cameron's promise to fight back against social breakdown and is further evidence that the capital will be a test-bed for a future Tory government.

Yesterday Mr Johnson proposed the creation of up to 100 weekend clubs, involving 'competition, discipline and punishment', to help troubled teenagers.

The 'respect schools' will offer youngsters activities such as football and boxing alongside academic subjects to help them perform the 'handbrake turn' needed to put them on the path to educational achievement.

Spearheading the drive will be former prison governor Ray Lewis, who has been appointed deputy mayor for young people.

Mr Johnson will today flesh out his manifesto pledge to tackle crime on public transport, with patrols on buses and Tubes and a ban on drinking alcohol on the Underground.

For more news and observations about crime in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, check out Mean

Streets, the Daily News' crime blog.

http://www.dailynews.com/crime/ci_9194598