police - london force cut
WORKERS, OCT 2005 ISSUE
At a time when London faces terrorist threats, the strength of its police force is being cut. The cuts stem from a Home Office Initiative and a spending review being carried out by the Metropolitan Police Force. Despite assurances that numbers will increase, a pilot project in Bexley gives a truer picture of the realities to come.
Bexley was given £2.5 million to run a special project which would introduce extra civilians such as Police Community Support Officers to release police officers for "up front" policing. To start with they could maintain their existing number of officers, as well as the people needed for "civilianisation".
Now the money is running out and the number of full police officers is to be cut by 23. It is highly likely that the Metropolitan Police Service will now try to replicate this across London. Two years ago it was suggesting it might be able to manage to cut up to 50% of officers by this process. This could mean losses of 8,000 officers across London.