London Mayor sends out strongest warning on policing numbers

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has launched his strongest warning to date on Government police cuts, as he called on the Chancellor to use next month’s Budget to end the funding crisis which is putting lives at risk at a time of rising crime, rising population and an unprecedented terror threat in the capital.

Sadiq Khan warned that police numbers in London would fall as low as 27,500 by 2021 without additional funding – the lowest level in 19 years. This would represent one police officer per 326 Londoners compared to one officer per 242 Londoners in 2010 – a fall of 26 per cent.

Last week new figures confirmed that recorded crime across the UK has been rising since 2014. In London, violent crime is increasing and there has been a shift in counter terror demand following four deadly attacks this year.

In London, where the population has reached a record 8.6m and continues to rise, the police funding issue has already led to the loss of almost 3,000 police community support officers, most of the capital’s police station front counters and 120 police buildings as the Mayor and the Met have sought to do everything possible to make £600m of savings while protecting frontline police officers.

A further £400m of savings is needed by 2021.

 

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