FIGURES given to the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee show the Metropolitan Police Service adjusted the original budget police officer numbers down from 19,013 to 18,103 in order to take account of those services being delivered centrally. This meant a reduction of 910 posts. Based on resource modelling the Met predict the target number of police officers working in Neighbourhood policing to be 19,285.
The Mayor claimed at the 14 February meeting of the Police and Crime Committee that there would be an increase of 1,182 borough officers because of his plan.
Jenny Jones said:
“The Mayor has misled Londoners: telling them there will be an increase of 1,182 officers in the boroughs when in fact the Met’s own figures show the real increase to be 272. The Mayor has been dishonest with Londoners and it’s not until a few days before his Plan is published that the Met reveal the true figures.
“Londoners deserve openness and transparency instead they have been misled by a Mayor who wants to spin the stats to create a rosy picture. People do not have a clear idea of what this Plan will do to the frontline. We are still in the dark about these new contact points which are supposed to replace front counters and police stations. Now that Londoners know the truth about the adjusted numbers the Mayor should run a second stage of the consultation providing Londoners will all the information they need in order to properly take part.”