The Mayor of London released his Police and Crime Plan on 9 January. I attended the Southwark police and crime plan consultation meeting at City Hall along with London Assembly Member Val Shawcross and the Leader of Southwark Council, Cllr Peter John. At the meeting, the Metropolitan Police told us that London would receive 2,000 new police officers.  They must take the opportunity to recruit men and women from the black community so that the police can reflect the communities they serve and that will help good police community relations which are so important in the fight against crime.  The new Equality Act allows them to do this.  They should use it.