The Metropolitan Police Commissioner in London, Sir John Stevens, yesterday called for closer links between the Irish community and the police and appealed for more Irish recruits, writes Rachel Donnelly.
"London has a large and active Irish community and we want to continue to attract Irish men and women to join the Met, not just as police officers but as essential support staff," Sir John said. He was attending the opening of an Irish housing project in Islington established by the Cara Housing Association.
The speaker of the House of Commons, Mr Michael Martin, officially opened the 10 self-contained flats in Ronan McCloskey House, named in tribute to an Irish-born Metropolitan Police officer who was killed by a drunk driver in 1987. Irish people who have been living on the streets in London will be offered accommodation in the flats.
Sir John said while the Irish community in London made up 11 per cent of the population, just 0.4 per cent of his staff were drawn from the group.