On Monday I went to visit the new, wham bam, all singing all dancing communications centre for the Met Police.

Having spent much of my time when on the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) banging on about the appalling lack of response when people tried to ring their local police stations – today was pretty satisfying.

About five years ago or so I carried out a survey of police stations with front counters across London. We rang them all – allowing up to 100 rings (6 minutes +) – for them to answer. The results were a damning report to the MPA showing that something like 60% were not answered within that time.

I then wrote to all the Borough Commanders in London with their results. No – it didn’t win me a popularity contest – but it sure made the point!

Anyway – the centre is meant to be the answer to all those unanswered or late-answered calls. The new centre along with the new policing pledge means that you will have your 999 call answered within 10 seconds and the police will aim to attend within 12 minutes. Your call to the non urgent number 0300 123 1212 will be answered within 30 seconds and the police aim to be with you within an hour.

Given how much of the dissatisfaction about the police is around their non-answering and their non-turning up in timely fashion – this is definitely the way to go. And the new centre and the enthusiasm of the lead and staff in this state of the art centre is pretty impressive.

So now they have the building, they have the system and they’ve made the pledge. Proof and pudding we look forward to!