The Mayor of Lewisham has been told she should subscribe to the News Shopper after “not knowing what is reported in the local press”.
Liberal Democrat campaigner Mark Bennett said that he asked Mayor Brenda Dacres about a stop and search incident in Greenwich at a Lewisham Council meeting on November 27.
His question came after a News Shopper report about a Metropolitan Police officer who threatened to use a taser on a 16-year-old boy’s neck being given a final warning.
Mr Bennett said that he asked Mayor Dacres to raise concerns about the use of tasers by Lewisham-based officers at her next meeting with the Met’s local commander.
But he claims that she “knew nothing” about the incident.
“It’s very disappointing that the Mayor doesn’t know what the Met is up to even when it’s reported in the local press,” said Mark.
“The Mayor is the only elected local person who is supposedly holding the police to account in Lewisham. They need to keep abreast of local news.”
He also urged the Mayor to publish details of what she discusses with the local Met commander at their regular meetings.
In response, a council spokesperson said: “The Mayor does of course read our excellent local media, however the question submitted to the council meeting didn’t refer to a specific event.
“We now understand it referred to the concerning incident in Greenwich in 2020.
“The Mayor and the Borough Commander meet regularly and this issue was discussed when they met earlier this month.
“These are not public meetings and full details are not disclosed for reasons of confidentiality.”
Mr Bennett claims he emailed a link to the News Shopper’s report to the Mayor the evening before the meeting in which he asked his question.