The Metropolitan Police’s latest figures reveal that 61 police officers have been cut in Newham since May 2010. London has seen a decrease of over 2,900 police officers across the city.
Since his re-election last May Boris Johnson has cut over 1,300 police officers – despite promising an extra 1,000. The latest drop in police numbers comes at a time when the Mayor and government are considering buying water cannons for the police.
Local London Assembly Member John Biggs,said:
“These latest figures are deeply concerning. Not only have we lost 61 police officers in Newham, a 7% decline, but nearly 3000 have been cut across London since May 2010. The vast majority of these officers have been lost from the borough’s police teams. Hollowing out the frontline like this cannot continue. Newham will also see the front counters at East Ham and North Woolwich closed.
“Instead of cutting the police budget by 20 per cent and buying water cannons the government and Mayor should be properly resourcing the police. These cuts are completely unacceptable. Boris’ latest policing plan claims that it will put more police into the boroughs and on the streets, the evidence tells a very different story. The Mayor and the Government’s cuts are too far, too fast.”
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