London mayor gains powers over the Metropolitan Police

London's mayor is now responsible for the Metropolitan Police's priorities and performance, as part of government plans for elected commissioners.
The Metropolitan Police Authority was disbanded at midnight and replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).
MOPC will be monitored by the London Assembly's Police and Crime Panel.
Operational matters will still be the responsibility of Metropolitan Police commissioner.
The mayor will also set the annual force budget for the Metropolitan Police in consultation with the commissioner.
But the mayor does not have the power to appoint or dismiss the commissioner, or the deputy commissioner.
Safe city
Mayor Boris Johnson said his priorities will include serious youth violence, knife crime, getting more officers on the streets, tackling gangs, robbery, burglary and cutting reoffending rates.
He said: "Londoners rightly expect to live in a safe city and I'll now be keeping an even closer eye on every aspect of policing, ensuring more than ever that the crimes that most concern Londoners are addressed."
The change is part of the police reform and social responsibility bill which aims to give people a say in how they are policed.
London is the first police body to launch as it already has a directly elected mayor. The rest of the country will follow in November 2012 after local elections are held.