Andrew Dismore

Dear editor

Your last week’s front page article is correct to highlight the justified fears for Jewish school  security,  after  the Paris attacks. Indeed, last month I had already questioned the London Mayor (who has responsibility for the Metropolitan Police) about  these issues and stressed the need to provide heightened police security for all Jewish schools, not just those benefitting  from Government funds.  I am pleased Labour has confirmed that if we win the election, the finances  for Jewish school security will be continued.

However, the biggest threat to all our security – Jews fearing anti  Semitic incidents, Moslems fearing Islamophobic  attacks, and  everyone else who fears growing violent crime –  are the deep cuts the Conservatives have made to the police service which has so reduced the visibility of our police on the streets of Barnet . Compared to May 2010, last month , Barnet had  60 fewer police officers, down 10%;  and 111 fewer PCSOs down 65%.

This month, Labour’s London alternative budget, fully costed and audited by City Hall officers, proposed an extra 1000 police officers for London. Yes, it would have meant cancelling the Mayor’s council tax cut- worth just 1p a day to average Londoners, but when aggregated across the capital, worth millions. However  the Mayor has rejected  our plan. When I challenged him on whether  he thought  Londoners would prefer his 1p a day cut or Labour’s 1,000 more police, the Mayor refused to answer.  I think we can all guess why, and what most people’s  response would be!

Yours sincerely

Andrew Dismore

Labour Parliamentary candidate  for Hendon

London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden