An update on the future of PCSOs in the capital

I wanted to provide you with an update on the future of PCSOs in the capital. The Met were due to discuss options last week. As a result of the significant political and public opposition,  the Met. has pushed back a decision on the plans until December. 

This gives us time to continue to campaign against the Met.’s attempt to scrap PCSOs by stealth. Whilst Government cuts to the Met.’s budget (£600m between 2010 and 2016 and another £800m expected to be confirmed in the upcoming Spending Review- altogether more than 40% of their total budget ) will mean incredibly tough choices ahead, decisions on the future shape of policing in the capital should be taken in consultation with residents not sneaked through. At the last Police and Crime Committee meeting Labour Group AM’s made it clear to the Commissioner and the Deputy Mayor for Policing   that this decision could not go ahead without meaningful consultation with London’s communities.

To see the extent of the likely impact of the cuts beyond PCSOs, you might like to see the Commissioner’s answers at the Police  Committee, especially to my colleague Joanne McCartney AM, chair of the City Hall Police and Crime Committee :

http://www.london.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/b13148/Appendix%201%20-%20Transcript%20of%20QA%20with%20MOPAC%20and%20MPS%20Thursday%2024-Sep-2015%2010.00%20Police%20and%20Crime%20Comm.pdf?T=9

Cuts under consideration include not just the PCSOs, but also cutting out a whole rank ( probably Chief Inspectors) , selling off ¾ of the remaining buildings ( only one station per borough guaranteed), merging borough commands, and wholesale privatisation with all the risks that that entails. The Commissioner made clear that even with all that, more would be needed to meet an extra £800 million in cuts.

I hope that you will continue to campaign and fight these changes and support  the  petition against the cuts which is available at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-neighbourhood-policing-in-london.

Please also pass this email with the petition link on. If you know anyone who would like to be added to my mailing list, please ask them to email me with their name and postal address ( so I can check they are constituents)

 

Best regards

 

 

 

Andrew Dismore

Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden

 

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