No cuts to neighbourhood policing despite ‘stretched’ system – Met chief
No cuts to neighbourhood policing despite ‘stretched’ system – Met chief
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No cuts will be made to neighbourhood policing despite a “stretch in the system”, the chief of the Metropolitan Police has confirmed. Sir Mark Rowley, who heads the country’s largest police force, has previously warned of “eye-watering” cuts to the force’s spending this year.
But speaking during a visit to the Met’s new police hub in Woodford, Sir Mark confirmed he planned to “strengthen” neighbourhood policing. He told the PA news agency: “We’re working still through the end stages of our budget … When we’ve got all of that and we’ve done the maths and worked it all out then we’ll be able to give the final number.
“In February, we’ll be really clear with London about the effects of it. “But neighbourhood policing is not going to be cut. This is critical to our strategy to protect London, to build trust and reduce crime. “So people won’t see these officers being taken away. I want to strengthen it as far as I can do because of the effect they make locally.”.
Sir Mark previously warned of cuts as the force “desperately” tries to keep a significant number of police officers. In November, he told BC Radio 4’s Political Thinking With Nick Robinson that he was “deeply troubled by the situation” the force “appears to be heading towards”.
The proposed cuts come amid a record high in shoplifting offences in England and Wales, with nearly half a million recorded by police in the previous year. A total of 492,914 offences were logged by forces in the year to September 2024, up 23% from 402,220 in the previous 12 months.
