In defence of local policing

Published: 5 November, 2010

• IN 2006 London became the first region to have dedicated local police teams for every neighbourhood. 

Today there are 630 Safer Neighbourhoods teams in London including 25 in Westminster. 

There are now serious concerns about their future. Conservative mayor Boris Johnson has approved changes to the size and scope of Safer Neighbourhoods teams which means your local policing team may no longer be dedicated to patrolling your street. 

The Conservatives are threatening huge cuts to policing in London. In the Comprehensive Spending Review, 

Mr Johnson’s Tory friends in government slashed spending on the police in London by 22 per cent and last week a Metropolitan Police document admitted that there will be a, “reduction in police and police staff numbers across the MPS”. 

I believe the mayor should be investing in the police rather than wasting money on vanity projects like the fantasy Thames airport and costly new bus for London and pay rises for his chief executive 

If you agree with me that local police teams are absolutely crucial to making our streets safer in Westminster and must not be cut go to www.kenlivingstone.com for more details about our campaign to protect your Safer Neighbourhoods team from Boris Johnson’s cuts. 

KEN LIVINGSTONE