Recruitment of Police Officers

“The Assembly notes that the Government have announced an ambition to recruit 20,000 police officers throughout England and Wales. Though we await to see details on specifics such as funding arrangements, equipment and training, we support the desire to get more police on our streets. The Assembly notes that we have long argued that London requires more police funding and resources from Westminster and we welcome the Government’s overdue acknowledgement that police cuts have gone too far.

The Assembly further notes that the Mayor has written to the Home Secretary calling for the Metropolitan Police Service to receive 5,000 of the total police officers. The Assembly backs the Mayor’s demand for these extra officers which London desperately needs.

We call on the Mayor to continue to make requests for the additional 5,000 officers for London and further suggest that he requests assurances that the Government will fully fund the total cost of hiring new officers, including costs for police equipment, training, salary costs and pension costs.”