Andrew Dismore

At yesterday’s City Hall Police and Crime Committee, London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore AM today questioned Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick over the future of the Metropolitan Police, in light of inadequate funding from Government. (Video: https://vimeo.com/222526273)

Mr Dismore asked Ms Dick about a press release from the Home Office, suggesting the Met.’s budget was protected.

Ms Dick confirmed that the Met. was still facing a funding shortfall of £400 million in its budget over the next three years; and that the Met was underfunded for its Capital City functions by £107 million even on the Home Office’s own figures, £172 million on the Met.’s figures. This discrepancy is set to rise with the current international and national demands on the police.

Mr Dismore said:

‘At best, the Government is guilty of putting out fake news, in suggesting the Met was not facing cuts. The Commissioner has confirmed that further police station closures are on the way, borough mergers will continue, but even with further other efficiencies too, the police will not be able to do all that they have in the past.

‘Most worryingly, she confirmed that without extra central Government funding, cuts in the number of police officers were inevitable.

‘At a time when we have seen the Met facing its most trying times, with large numbers of officers tied up in investigating  the Grenfell House tower block fire and the recent terrorism incidents, the Government  have their head in the  sand.

‘London’s population is growing, the challenges to Londoners’ security are getting ever more serious, yet the Government is sitting on its hands and allowing dangerous police cuts to follow.

‘They must wake up and smell the coffee if London is to be kept safe’.