The Mayor of London’s Police and Crime Plan for London was launched earlier today. The plan confirms that Bow, Poplar and Isle of Dogs police station front counters in Tower Hamlets will be downgraded to contact points, with a significant reduction in opening hours. It repeats the claim that Tower Hamlets will see an increase in police numbers, when in fact there will be a decrease of 29 police officers.
The new Police and Crime Plan repeats the claim that all of London’s 32 boroughs will see an increase in the number of police officer based in their borough. The Mayor has been previously criticised for this claim as it is based on police numbers in 2011, a low point for the Met following a recruitment freeze. Compared to 2010 17 of London’s 32 boroughs will see a decrease in the number of police officers, and the remaining boroughs will not receive as many extra officers as promised.
The plan also confirms that over 60 police stations and front counters will be closed, 12 stations earmarked for closure have been reprieved but more stations that were safe have been put on the list. The Police and Crime Plan fails to provide any detail about these closures, it also fails to details where the new “Contact Points” will be based.
Local Labour London Assembly Member John Biggs said:
“For Boris to continue claiming that Tower Hamlets will see an increase in police officer numbers is misleading. Tower Hamlets will have 29 fewer officers once his plans are put in place. He is peddling his tired old line that his plan won’t cut frontline police services. It’s time he was honest with residents and tell them he failed to get a good deal from government and now we are paying the price.
“Boris is planning on downgrading Bow, Isle of Dogs and Poplar police station front counters to contact points, severely reducing the number of hours they are open. This is against the wishes of local residents who have been clear in their opposition to the Mayor’s plans.
“The Mayor told us that all police stations closed down would receive like-for-like replacements but today’s announcement shows this isn’t the case. Rather than wasting time promoting himself on the national stage, the Mayor should be paying attention to his day job and getting a better deal for Londoners from his colleagues in government.
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