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The poster, created by created by Leagas Delaney, asks "If New York's Mayor can cut crime, why can't London's?" alongside a picture of Norris.

The poster ads will be supported by press advertising communicating how Norris would use the Metropolitan Police budget of £2.7bn if he were elected. It follows the Tory candidate's visit to New York last week to meet with former Mayor Rudi Giuliani, who famously cut crime in the city with his zero tolerance policy.

The launch of the crime focused Norris campaign comes as London's police chief told the mayoral candidates not to "misinterpret" crime statistics to portray London in a bad light.

In an email leaked to the Evening Standard Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens said he would not tolerate politicians obscuring his own position that crime is under control.

"Sir John Stevens is concerned that violent crime statistics are not misinterpreted by mayoral candidates," the email said.

The email was sent ahead of annual crime figures due to be released next week. It added that it was "important that the Met delivers clear messages when this happens" and that the briefing is intended solely for mayoral candidates not the media.

It follows research showing that fear of crime is the greatest concern for Londoners, but that many people who live in the city believe that the mayor is only concerned with crime in the centre of the capital. Norris has said that he would put more police on the streets of London in every single one of the 33 London boroughs.

Tim Delaney, chairman of Leagas Delaney, said: "Our aim has been to create a rallying cry for Steve Norris that captures his passion for solving London's growing crime problem."

The agency was appointed to handle Norris' bid in January after a pitch against four other agencies.

The campaign runs until the election on June 10. Norris will be battling against current mayor Ken Livingston, who will stand as the Labour candidate, and high profile Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes.