In response to the Government’s Police Funding Settlement announcement, Labour’s London Assembly Policing and Crime Spokesperson, Unmesh Desai AM, said:
“On paper £200 million might sound great, but in reality this is only a small fraction of the almost £1 billion worth of cuts the Met has suffered over the last decade with more to come.
“We cannot shy away from the fact that funding cuts since 2010 have helped to create the conditions for the rise in violent crime, with the most vulnerable Londoners in the poorest areas of the capital particularly impacted.
“It is vital that the Government commits to putting at least 6,000 officers back on London’s streets, whilst restoring proper investment in our communities, schools and youth services.
“Whilst we should never excuse criminality, it is only in this way that we can begin to effectively address the complex and multi-faceted factors behind youth violence and all other forms of crime”.
Notes to editors
- Unmesh Desai AM is the London Assembly Member for City and East (covering Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and the City of London.)