Policing and safety

Have your say on the proposed spending plans for policing and safety in this year's Budget 2020-21.

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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.

The discussion ran from 07 January 2020 - 30 January 2020

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Comments (98)

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As mentioned by several people, knife crime is at an all-time high, its got to the point where I am surprised if I don't hear that some poor soul has been the victim of a stabbing.

For the first time recently, I found myself subconsciously...

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As mentioned by several people, knife crime is at an all-time high, its got to the point where I am surprised if I don't hear that some poor soul has been the victim of a stabbing.

For the first time recently, I found myself subconsciously selecting what I was wearing just to go to the local shop after dark, so as not to attract any unwanted attention, and this from a middle-aged male!

What are we doing specifically to combat this ? I hear that some kids feel they have to carry knives to protect themselves from others carrying knives. The penalty for carrying a knife should be the same as gun, as being murdered by either has the same end result. We also need to make sure the VRU and YLF initiatives are well funded, there are some figures above, but there is no breakdown and I can bet its not enough. 

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PMW35

Despite a very high level of breakins and thefts from neighbours and our properties the local police do little or nothing to pursue the the thieves.   The constant threat of breakins and need for high levels of expensive protection...

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PMW35

Despite a very high level of breakins and thefts from neighbours and our properties the local police do little or nothing to pursue the the thieves.   The constant threat of breakins and need for high levels of expensive protection makes it difficult to relax and enjoy day today life. No doubt the lack of action by the police is due to lack of money. This needs to be addressed.

 

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London is a global centre for world class technology especially AI - which thankfully the Mayor supports and encourages.  Many crimes are facilitated via mobile technology and involve exploitation of young and vulnerable people.  London...

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London is a global centre for world class technology especially AI - which thankfully the Mayor supports and encourages.  Many crimes are facilitated via mobile technology and involve exploitation of young and vulnerable people.  London should collaborate with these young companies to their mutual benefit to introduce preventative measures that will assist policing to flag and reduce some of these issues e.g. radicalisation, weapons, county lines, child sexual exploitation, cyber safety.  

Police forces cannot keep up with cyber crime on their budget - it is simply not possible.

The Mayor's Office needs to find a better way of working with commercial businesses rather than just NGOs and charities to improve citizens safety.

Organisations that should be included in improving Londoners safety - taxi firms, TFL, Mobile Network Operators, Mobile Handset manufacturers, Social Media, Banking Apps, IOT neighbourhood CCTV facilities, London-centric helplines

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I regard on improvement in policing as a higher priority than the cost of living. If as a result of knife attack.. you are very severely injured or even die you are not concerned about the cost of living! 

An increased presence of officers...

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I regard on improvement in policing as a higher priority than the cost of living. If as a result of knife attack.. you are very severely injured or even die you are not concerned about the cost of living! 

An increased presence of officers on the street is a deterrent and the time wasted by the copious amount of paper work that is landed on the police officers desk must be radically reduced in order to allow the police to spend more time in protecting the public

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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Fighting knife crime requires much more money than the £5 million. It's a shame in our city that  teenagers are dying weekly. Stop talking and do something.

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Fighting knife crime requires much more money than the £5 million. It's a shame in our city that  teenagers are dying weekly. Stop talking and do something.

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Our local police station in Ballards Lane shut down several years ago and is set to become another block of flats.

 £5 million is a paltry sum and barely  enough to restore the safety and security of one local area let alone London. The...

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Our local police station in Ballards Lane shut down several years ago and is set to become another block of flats.

 £5 million is a paltry sum and barely  enough to restore the safety and security of one local area let alone London. The government should do much more and not leave it ti cash starved cities not allowed to use the revenue they generate.

If corporate tax laws were tighter London would have far more to spend. The mayors office should do more to claw back monies from corporations and prevent them from hiving money away in tax havens.

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A city that receives millions of tourists, a police station dedicated to crimes affecting them is needed. Now that we don't have police stations anywhere, it is hard to tell them they need to call when they have their wallet and passport...

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A city that receives millions of tourists, a police station dedicated to crimes affecting them is needed. Now that we don't have police stations anywhere, it is hard to tell them they need to call when they have their wallet and passport stolen. The city needs to be more welcome to visitors as they boost our economy with the money they spend here.

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London is rife with drug use, people freely smoke cannabis and offer drugs on the street, reporting this to the police rarely gets more than a symbolic response.  The police need to put more effort into dealing with these smaller anti...

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London is rife with drug use, people freely smoke cannabis and offer drugs on the street, reporting this to the police rarely gets more than a symbolic response.  The police need to put more effort into dealing with these smaller anti-social crimes which are rotting society and take them more seriously with really punishment for the criminals.  Dealing with the source isn't necessarily the problem and society needs to reminded that it's also illegal to take most kinds of drugs.  Cannabis is especially an issue in residential areas where people's home lives are disrupted by users in their community, again, the police do nothing about this and take a far too soft approach.  In general smaller crimes are not dealt with robustly giving criminals the signal that it's ok.

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The murder numbers are saying that the problem is not solved.  Contrast to drug trafficking by police (and intelligence) and creation of teams of young people, without a job, dedicated to public maintenance (cleaning, repairing, painting...

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The murder numbers are saying that the problem is not solved.  Contrast to drug trafficking by police (and intelligence) and creation of teams of young people, without a job, dedicated to public maintenance (cleaning, repairing, painting, etc.).  The team should work in a single area and have a rating (every 3/6 months) by citizens, and a money reward for the better ones.

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Centralisation has made huge police efficiencies. Now increase the Police budget to allow an increased number of officers to better target criminal activity. By putting further money into mental health care, this would release even more...

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Centralisation has made huge police efficiencies. Now increase the Police budget to allow an increased number of officers to better target criminal activity. By putting further money into mental health care, this would release even more officers who are currently covering many mentally ill  and vulnerable persons calls in order to protect them and the general public, this type of call is very time consuming. Passing this on to a dedicated, trained Agency which would release even more officers to deal with preventing crime and protecting the public, that should be their primary aim and responsibility. 

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Centarlisation may have produced Efficiences if its about money,it has not made the forces more efficient catching the criminals. Ask the man on the ground what they think. They have been turned into pen pushers.

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Centarlisation may have produced Efficiences if its about money,it has not made the forces more efficient catching the criminals. Ask the man on the ground what they think. They have been turned into pen pushers.

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Good point to prevent by reducing mental health problems and making people less vulnerable

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Good point to prevent by reducing mental health problems and making people less vulnerable

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Since the local police stations have been closed I very rarely see a policeman in our local area. I do see police cars racing up and down the road sirens blasting all because the police stations are now in the centre of towns so they have...

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Since the local police stations have been closed I very rarely see a policeman in our local area. I do see police cars racing up and down the road sirens blasting all because the police stations are now in the centre of towns so they have to radiate out from there all over the borough.   It seem that there more interest in catchings the public for road offenses and very little else.( easy and good for the bureaucrats numbers.

Get more police on their feet and  out of the comfortable cars with the excitement of the Starsky and Hutch mind set.

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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Crimes like theft need to be investigated. By not investigating the smaller crime it gives the message that people can get away with stuff. It's exactly the broken window effect. 

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Crimes like theft need to be investigated. By not investigating the smaller crime it gives the message that people can get away with stuff. It's exactly the broken window effect. 

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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You need a much bigger budget!

 

too many officers doing civilian roles because that keeps police numbers. hire more civilians instead of continuing to cut them to perform those roles and get the officers working again. 

 

At the very...

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You need a much bigger budget!

 

too many officers doing civilian roles because that keeps police numbers. hire more civilians instead of continuing to cut them to perform those roles and get the officers working again. 

 

At the very least report the true figures of officers and civilians over the periods concerned there were mass culls of civilians who were replaced by officers because that doesnt look as bad on officer numbers!

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There needs to be more visible police on the streets. The number of local convenience stores that employ security on the doors is an example of a lawless city. I've seen people walk in and take food, walk out. The store manager says he...

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There needs to be more visible police on the streets. The number of local convenience stores that employ security on the doors is an example of a lawless city. I've seen people walk in and take food, walk out. The store manager says he contacts the police but they have no resources to investigate. Lawless city in many areas. 

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This has been happening for years. I remember being in a Specsavers about 8 years ago when someone grabbed some glasses and run out. Nothing was done to stop them or follow and the staff had been told to just let it be taken rather that get...

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This has been happening for years. I remember being in a Specsavers about 8 years ago when someone grabbed some glasses and run out. Nothing was done to stop them or follow and the staff had been told to just let it be taken rather that get attacked. They also said no point contacting the police as nothing would be done.

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In 2019, London had an increase in murders whereas the average for the country as a whole was lower.  So much for your efforts at reducing crime, what has the VRU been doing?  Not a lot by the looks of it so STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND DO IT...

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In 2019, London had an increase in murders whereas the average for the country as a whole was lower.  So much for your efforts at reducing crime, what has the VRU been doing?  Not a lot by the looks of it so STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND DO IT NOW.  It is NOT possible to put a value on human life so you should NOT be making excuses about budget cuts and the like.  More police on the streets would be a major contributor to safety but, of course, less bureaucracy and less paperwork for the police would help as well!

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I do not understand what the VRU does as I have seen no evidence anywhere of its existence.  If it simply consists of individuals in offices, then a 'chocolate tea pot' would be as helpful!  Why not go out 'on the streets' to speak to the...

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I do not understand what the VRU does as I have seen no evidence anywhere of its existence.  If it simply consists of individuals in offices, then a 'chocolate tea pot' would be as helpful!  Why not go out 'on the streets' to speak to the public?  Why not speak to the individuals involved to find out why they commit the violence?  Why not speak to the parents of the individuals involved, as well, to find out what is going on?  Why not ensure that knives and other potential weapons are not sold willynilly and that proper checks are made where necessary?  In many respects, knife crime is a National problem and outlets selling these appalling weapons need to be closed down and imports into the UK stopped.  Why not speak to retailers, leisure centres and the like as they have first hand experience of the problem?  It is no good sitting in an office waiting for the next violent action to take place.  'Reduction' might be a start but 'PREVENTION' would be heaps better.

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More police on the streets and integrating with local communities.  Where are the members of the VRU?  Are they bureaucrats in City Hall or on the streets? Is the YLF providing LOCAL places for young people to attend? 

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More police on the streets and integrating with local communities.  Where are the members of the VRU?  Are they bureaucrats in City Hall or on the streets? Is the YLF providing LOCAL places for young people to attend? 

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I would like to see more police visible and on the ground, not just in town centres but also in our communities. And with more powers to deal with anti social behaviours. The youth these days don't seem to be respectful toward the police...

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I would like to see more police visible and on the ground, not just in town centres but also in our communities. And with more powers to deal with anti social behaviours. The youth these days don't seem to be respectful toward the police. They are not afraid of the consequences that are currently used for crime. Additionally, parents should be made aware of how to control their children. The streets are not safe for us to let our kids out in the evening. This should be a long term project to build better communities and rid the scourge of anti social behaviour once and for all.

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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It is not just at night my Son was attacked on the way home from school in January 2019 which was classed as a GBH. He sustained a minor brain injury and other injuries after being stomped/kicked in the head, face and body. This was done by...

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It is not just at night my Son was attacked on the way home from school in January 2019 which was classed as a GBH. He sustained a minor brain injury and other injuries after being stomped/kicked in the head, face and body. This was done by two thugs who go to the same school as him. The police have not put this in front of the CPS and I doubt due to all the delays it ever will be.  

He was also attacked in broad daylight when walking through a park with his girlfriend. These attackers were all girls. It took the police after 4 phone calls to 999 -1.5 hours to arrive. These not getting punished I can understand as they are not known to us. However they do have good CCTV of some of the attack as my Son and Girlfriend had managed to get to a University building and obtain a place of safety. If there had been a parks warden or more police walking around at the time of both attacks it may have deterred the thugs.

Unfortunately there have been so many cuts to public services across the board we are know paying for it with the lives of not just our young. It has a ripple effect not just those that are physically injured get hurt it is the emotional pain that families or friends suffer as well.

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Increasing Council Tax on the premise of fighting crime/law and order, is just playing with words. All we will get is yet another increase in staff numbers at city hall.

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Increasing Council Tax on the premise of fighting crime/law and order, is just playing with words. All we will get is yet another increase in staff numbers at city hall.

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More police on the streets so that crime is deterred.  Criminals go into restaurants and intimidate staff and get away with it at present.  Visible police officers discourage crime and make  residents feel they belong to a community.

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More police on the streets so that crime is deterred.  Criminals go into restaurants and intimidate staff and get away with it at present.  Visible police officers discourage crime and make  residents feel they belong to a community.

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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Reopen all the local police stations closed in the recent years and investigate crime. The current procedure of logging crime online and just receive an email saying the case is closed is as good as throwing it into a bin. This deters...

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Reopen all the local police stations closed in the recent years and investigate crime. The current procedure of logging crime online and just receive an email saying the case is closed is as good as throwing it into a bin. This deters people from reporting crime in the first place as nothing will be done. While the statistics will show crime reduction, this is not an accurate reflection of reality.

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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Yes, absolutely agree with this comment.

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I have a police station at the top of my road and it makes no difference to how crime is not dealt with. I have also been an advocate saying we have a good police force and have been happy to go to court as a witness for them. I have been...

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I have a police station at the top of my road and it makes no difference to how crime is not dealt with. I have also been an advocate saying we have a good police force and have been happy to go to court as a witness for them. I have been happy to pick out a burglar at another time from a computer generated line up. I can no longer do that.

My Son was attacked twice last year and nothing has happened no one has been charged or is most probably ever going to be. One of these attacks the people were known and in fact are at the same school it was classed as GBH due to the ferocity and the injuries sustained. We were told it would all be dealt with by now but has not even been given to the CPS and will most probably never be. I now know why people deal with things like this themselves.

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