Issues Facing Londoners

A recent MORI survey for the Greater London Authority shows that Londoners are seeing higher numbers of uniformed police officers on the streets, both in their local neighbourhood (41%) and London as a whole (45%). Although nearly three quarters (71%) say that the additional police visibility makes them feel safer personally, its effect on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour is perceived to be less. Indeed two thirds (69%) believe that crime is getting worse in the Capital.

Other findings show that the majority of Londoners feel their standard of living is improving, although issues such as hospitals, taxes, and in particular housing costs, continue to cause concern. Views on transport in the Capital are mixed, with the same number saying it is getting better as say it is getting worse. However, by a small margin (43% to 38%), residents are more likely than not to say they would be prepared to pay an additional 10% on bus fares to help fund improvements to London's transport.

Topline Results

• Results are based on 1,007 interviews conducted by telephone with a representative sample of residents in the Greater London area.
• Interviews were conducted 9-12 October 2004.
• Data are weighted by gender, age, work status, ethnicity and Inner versus Outer London to the known profile of Greater London.
• Where results do not sum to 100%, this may be due to multiple responses, computer rounding or the exclusion of 'don't know/not stated' response categories.
• Where there are small bases (less than 30 respondents) responses are given in absolute figures rather than percentage answers.

Mayor of London

Q1 Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Ken Livingstone is doing his job as Mayor of London? Is that very/fairly satisfied/dissatisfied?

Q2 How well informed do you think the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority keeps you about the services they have responsibility for. Would you say they...?

Q3 How strong do you think the economy is at the moment: would you say it is very strong, strong, fairly weak or very weak.

Q4 I am going to read out a list of concerns that people have. Please tell me which two of these concern you most.

Q5 Generally speaking, do you think things in London are going in the right direction, or do you think things are going in the wrong direction?

Q6 I am going to list some aspects of life in London. For each one, based on your own personal experience, please tell me whether it is getting better, or getting worse these days.

Policing

Q6 In the past year, would you say you have seen more, less or about the same number of uniformed police officers (that is policemen and Police Community Support Officers) in ...?

Q8a To what extent does seeing more uniformed police officers in ... (YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD AND/OR LONDON) ... make you feel safer?

Q8b To what extent do you think having more uniformed police officers in ... (YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD AND/OR LONDON) ... has reduced crime?

Q8c To what extent do you think having more uniformed police officers in ... (YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD AND/OR LONDON) ... has reduced anti-social behaviour?

Fares

Q9 Which of the following means of public transport do you use at least once a week?

Q10 It has been suggested that the average bus fare rises by 10% above the rate of inflation, and that this additional money should be used to fund improvements in the transport network.

Thinking about the price of your bus fare, would you be prepared to pay a higher bus fare if the increase helped to pay for improving London's transport system?

Low Emissions Zones

Q11 It has been proposed that the whole of Greater London becomes a "Low Emissions Zone" by 2007. This would mean that the most polluting buses, taxis, coaches, and lorries (but not cars) would be excluded from entering Greater London.

How strongly would you support or oppose the introduction of a "Low Emission Zone" for Greater London? Is that strongly or tend to support/oppose?

SUVs

Q12 There is some debate about the use of large Sports Utility Vehicles, sometimes called 4x4s or SUVs, in London.

Some say that these cars can emit up to four times as much carbon dioxide (CO2) as more environmentally friendly cars. They also argue that they can inflict more damage to pedestrians in crashes and can take up more road space and block visibility for pedestrians and other road users.

Others say that they feel safer driving a Sports Utility Vehicle, and that they provide extra seating and luggage space for large families.

Do you agree or disagree that people should be discouraged from using large Sports Utility vehicles in London? Is that strongly or tend to agree/disagree?

Smoking

Q Which of the following best applies to you?

Q Currently people are not allowed to smoke in certain places such as buses, tubes and some pubs or restaurants. Which of the following places, if any, would you like to be completely smoke free?

Q How strongly would you support or oppose a complete ban being introduced on smoking in all work places? This would include anywhere where people are employed to work, such as offices, factories, pubs or restaurants? Is that strongly or tend to support/oppose?

Q And how strongly would you support or oppose a complete ban being introduced on smoking in all taxis? Is that strongly or tend to support / oppose?