Boris breaks (another) election promise as 3,000 police officers are lost

The Met has lost over 3,000 police officers since May 2010, despite a promise by Boris Johnson to maintain police numbers "at or around 32,000".

The Met has lost over 3,000 police officers since May 2010 and is down to just 30,085 officers – despite a promise by Mayor Boris Johnson to maintain police numbers “at or around 32,000”.

The Met has also lost 2,265 Police Community Support Officers – 50 per cent of the total – according to new figures made available on the Mayor’s own London Datastore website.

Deputy mayor for policing Stephen Greenhalgh said last year that it would be a “doomsday scenario” for policing if the figure dipped below 31,000. Yet despite promises by the Mayor to maintain levels of policing, the figure has now dropped below the “doomsday” figure and stands at 30,085.

Responding to the figures, London Assembly police and crime spokesperson for Labour Joanne McCartney accused the Mayor of cutting “the bulk of our local safer neighbourhood teams”.

“According to his own figures he has cut police officer numbers by over 3,000 and halved PCSOs, which made up the bulk of our local safer neighbourhood teams

“The Met Police is now the third least visible on the streets compared to other areas of the country. The government have cut the policing budget by 20 per cent, the Mayor needs to stand up for Londoners and get a better deal for our city from his colleagues in government.”

2 Responses to “Boris breaks (another) election promise as 3,000 police officers are lost”

  1. Dave Roberts

    I am not sure what is happening here. Are you saying that these people are being sacked or that new officers are not being recruited? Which?

  2. GeneralSenseOfEnnui

    Fewer police officers to infiltrate protest groups or brutalise protesters. Finally Boris does something I agree with!

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