Local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai, AM has today written to the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, calling for a real terms funding increase for the Metropolitan Police. This comes in advance of the Home Office’s Police Funding Settlement announcement expected later this week.
In his letter, Mr Desai highlights the challenges that police teams are facing across London with the rise in serious and violent crime. He also cites the growing population of East London and the resultant increase in police demand as another reason for more resources to be allocated to the Met.
Significant funding cuts imposed by the Government have forced the Met Police to make £850 million in savings since 2010, and find an extra £335 million of savings by 2022.
Figures obtained by Mr Desai through a series of written questions to the Mayor have also revealed how funding cuts have placed insurmountable pressures upon the Met.
Between January and September, there were 328,010 police rest days cancelled. During the same period, 523 police officers voluntarily handed in their resignation.
In addition, it has been revealed that the Met’s Sapphire Unit, which leads on rape and sexual assault investigations, has an average caseload of 25 cases per officer. This is almost double the unit’s target.
A 2018 Pay and Morale Survey, conducted by the Police Federation of England and Wales, found that over 95% of respondents from the Met felt that morale within the force is currently low.
Local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, said:
“The Home Secretary has acknowledged the need for more police funding and now has a golden opportunity to prove that he is prepared to take the necessary steps to work effectively with City Hall to clamp down on crime in the capital.
“Sadly, we have not yet seen the Home Office step up on this issue, and our police forces have been left to face ever-burgeoning pressures, depleted and demoralised by sustained and irresponsible Government cuts.
“This is why I have written to the Home Secretary to urge him to show real leadership and use the upcoming Police Funding Settlement to give our police the funding boost it desperately needs”.
ENDS
Related documents
Unmesh Desai Sajid Javid Police Funding Letter
Notes to editors
- A copy of Unmesh Desai AM’s letter to the Home Secretary can be found attached;
- Funding cuts imposed by the Government have forced the Met Police to make £850 million in savings since 2010, and find an extra £335 million of savings by 2022;
- This week, City Hall published its projection that, due to sustained cuts, the number of police officers in London could drop to 26,800 by 2022: the lowest level since 2002.
- Between January and September, there were 328,010 police rest days cancelled. During the same period, 523 police officers voluntarily handed in their resignation.
- The Met’s Sapphire Unit, which leads on rape and sexual assault investigations, has an average caseload of 25 cases per officer. This is almost double the unit’s target of 13 cases per officer.
- A 2018 Pay and Morale Survey, conducted by the Police Federation of England and Wales, found that over 95% of respondents from the Met felt that morale within the force is currently low.
- Unmesh Desai AM is the London Assembly Member for City and East, (covering Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and the City of London).