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London Assembly Liberal DemocratsCaroline Pidgeon and Stephen Knight: Fighting for London |
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Boris Johnson attacked over planned police cuts
February 10, 2010 3:17 PM
In Evening Standard
In Evening Standard
Boris Johnson came under fire today over plans to cut five per cent from the operational budgets of Met Police borough commanders.
The figure of about £27 million decrease over the next three years -described as "efficiency savings" by the Mayor's office - was revealed in financial documents released by the Met.
But critics warned the move could hit street policing even though Mr Johnson has put the fight against crime at the heart of his mayoralty.
They claimed the squeeze on the boroughs - which could result in frontline officers being forced back behind desks - was the direct result of decisions made by the Mayor.
Labour former police minister Tony McNulty, writing on this page, said: "It's no good talking tough on crime if you squeeze the Met so that their job becomes increasingly difficult."
Lib-Dem policing spokeswoman Dee Doocey added: "This will require borough commanders to reduce staff whose posts will need to be filled by police officers, further reducing the number of police officers on the streets fighting crime."
Met Police insiders confirmed the cut but said much of it would be absorbed by modernisation and centralising key functions, such as human resources.
One said: "It has been no secret that there are cuts across the board. But we have always talked about streamlining processes, cutting support staff and back-desk staff to protect frontline jobs."
It came as the Mayor's formal budget was overshadowed by the row about his plans to cut 455 Met officers over the next three years.
The reduction in officer numbers will take place before the 2012 Olympics and has unleashed a wave of criticism from opposition parties.
Mr Johnson, who is stepping down as chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said he remained committed to tackling crime.
"What Londoners want to see is more police out from behind their desks onto the streets where the public can be reassured by their presence in fighting crime," he told the Assembly.
Labour, the Lib-Dems and the Greens all voted against the budget but it went through with Tory support. The opposition could not raise the two-thirds majority needed.
The budget revealed that while the number of police officers will fall, there will be no decrease in community support officers and volunteer special constables will increase by 2,690.
Mr Johnson has already launched a scheme, Operation Herald, to recruit 900 more civilians to staff custody suites, freeing up 550 officers for frontline duties.
Kit Malthouse, deputy mayor for policing, also writing on this page, accused critics of using police numbers as a political weapon and said many officers were tied up with clerical duties that should be on the beat.
"Our duty is to make sure as many of those officers as possible are out there fighting crime on the front line."
However, the row over police cuts is set to run with opponents raising it at every opportunity in the lead-up to the general and borough elections.
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