Tories 'soft on crime' - Community Safety Chief Abdul Hai critical of cuts to neighbourhood policing

Published: 16 June 2011
by JOSIE HINTON

CAMDEN’S community safety chief has insisted cuts to neighbourhood policing teams prove the government is “soft on crime”.

Labour councillor Abdul Hai (pictured below) spoke out this week following an announcement that the borough could lose four Safer Neighbourhood sergeants as part of a London-wide review of how community policing is funded.

Under the proposals, Camden’s 18 Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) will keep two PCs and three PCSOs, but may be forced to share their sergeant with another ward. 

No decisions have been made over which teams would be asked to share. Cllr Hai said he has written to Boris Johnson asking him to re-think the decision.

“It is apparent that the Conservatives are now re-branding themselves as the party that is both soft on crime and soft on the causes of crime,” he added. “At times of turbulence and endless cuts, we need sensible savings not cuts to front-line uniformed police.”

Since they were introduced in 2004, SNTs have been widely credited with cutting crime and improving the Met’s relationship with the community. Camden Borough Commander John Sutherland said: “The possible loss of the four sergeants is something that we will have to manage – and I’m confident in our ability to manage it well.”

Chris Fagg, who chairs the Gospel Oak Safer Neighbourhood Panel, added: “Under the new structure the community-led ethos will be watered down with teams being given the added responsibility of dealing with general crime and disorder in other wards.”

The proposals will be debated by the Metropolitan Police Authority today (Thursday).