Policing and safety

In the Priorities for Londoners survey, you ranked safety as the 3rd most important issue facing the capital after housing and cost of living.  Many of you felt that it was important action is taken to reduce poverty and inequality in deprived areas; to create positive opportunities for young people; and to ensure a visible and responsive police presence.

Over the last three years:

• The Mayor increased the annual resources of the police and fire services so that they are now £250 million higher than three years ago
• City Hall established a Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and a series of programmes to combat crime and violence in the past year

This budget proposes:

• Increased funding to ensure we have over 31,000 police officers in the capital – returning police numbers to the level they were in 2016, before they fell to a low of 29,900 in 2018 
• Increasing the VRU’s budget from £1.8 million to £5 million in 2020-21 and subsequent years. The VRU takes a preventative approach to tackling violent crime; exploring the factors that might lead to criminal behaviour and focusing attention and resources on what makes a difference
• Continuing funding to the Young Londoners Fund (YLF), with 56,000 young people participating in activities funded by the YLF by the end of 2022-23. The YLF provides support and activities for children and young people aged ten to 21, to help them make positive choices and reach their potential
• Increases in funding for the London Fire Brigade to ensure fire engines continue to arrive at emergency incidents within their targets
• Committing to providing the funding necessary for the Brigade to implement the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry

Tell us what you think of the spending plans for policing and safety in the discussion below.