During Wednesday’s Draft Budget Plenary meeting, local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, questioned the Mayor of London over the shortfall in the Met Police’s National International Capital City (NICC) grant.
The NICC grant is allocated by the Government to the Met Police in recognition of the specialist national and international work that the force carries out. This includes providing diplomatic protection and policing major events such as protests, concerts, football matches and state visits.
In response to Mr Desai’s question, the Mayor confirmed that there is a current shortfall of £160 million in the funding the Met receives to cover the costs of these operations.
During the meeting, the Mayor also agreed with Mr Desai’s observation that the Government should move towards a three-year funding scheme for the Met Police, to allow the force to determine a longer-term financial plan.
Last week, through the Police Funding Settlement, the Government pledged £200 million of funding for the Met Police over 2020/2021 to cover the cost of the recruitment of 1,369 new police officers. However, the Mayor underlined during the Draft Budget Plenary meeting that since 2010, the Metropolitan Police has suffered Government cuts totalling £833 million.
In recent years, City Hall has tried the plug the gaps in Government funding by investing approximately £280 million back into London’s policing budget. These efforts have ensured that police numbers have risen back to 31,000 in the capital. However, the Mayor highlighted that the impact of austerity has meant that there are still only 3 police officers per 1,000 Londoners. In 2010, this ratio was significantly higher at 4.1 officers per 1,000 Londoners.
As part of his Draft Budget, the Mayor has also announced plans to increase the policing precept of council tax by 22 pence per week. This is expected to raise an additional £15.7 million for crime reduction and provide fast-track funding for 600 police officers for the next financial year.
Local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, said:
“Whilst we are all too aware of the huge impact that a decade of Government cuts has had on the Met, the funding that the force needs so it can carry out its specialist national and international operations is often overlooked.
“It is a scandal that the Met is also being significantly short-changed in this area, and that Londoners are unfairly being left to foot the bill for national operations. I am glad to have received the Mayor’s assurances that he will continue to lobby the Government and make the case for fairer and more sustainable police funding.
“Sadly, with the disappointing funding settlement announcement last week, the Government have reaffirmed their refusal to face up to the damage caused by a decade of austerity. I am pleased to see the Mayor using his Draft Budget and increase in council tax to undo some of this and boost the number of police officers on our streets”.
Notes to editors
- Wednesday’s London Assembly Draft Budget Plenary meeting can be watched back here;
- More information about the Police Funding Settlement 2020-21 can be found here;
- As part of his Draft Budget, the Mayor has announced plans to increase the policing precept of council tax by 22 pence per week;
- Unmesh Desai AM is the London Assembly Member for City and East (covering Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and the City of London).