Kennedy: Plans to tackle crime

The Liberal Democrats have launched their London manifesto, promising a "safer and greener" city.

In his foreword to the document, party leader Charles Kennedy praises London as one of the "great capitals of the world".

But he says crime has become a "routine experience" for many.

The manifesto pledges an extra 2,000 police officers and over 1,000 additional community support officers to ensure every London neighbourhood has its own "dedicated community police team".

It also sets out plans to improve transport, tackle the housing crisis, and protect the environment.

Kennedy said: "London should be a place where crime or the fear of crime is not a routine experience.

"London should be a place where journeys around the capital cease to be stressful and unpredictable, and become easier and more reliable."

The Lib Dems say plans to replace council tax with local income tax would leave half of Londoners better off.

Under the scheme, half a million pensioners would pay no local tax, while the average London family would be £420 better off, the manifesto claims.

The key transport policies outlined include scrapping the private-public tube partnership and bringing maintenance and upgrades back "in-house".

To improve railways, the party would streamline the franchise system, with fewer and larger train-operating companies.

And savings from the roads budget would be used to improve safety at London's stations.

There are also plans to use London's 90,000 empty homes for affordable housing, and to work with retailers to turn unused spaces around shops into homes.