Big boost for London borough policing

20/03
24 March 2003

An extra 600 officers will boost policing numbers in London’s boroughs over the next year, the Metropolitan Police Authority confirmed today.

In addition, every borough will get its own Police Community Support Officers, first introduced into central London last September to increase security patrols and raise visible policing.

A further 400 additional police officers will be posted to murder investigation and child protection squads – enhancing their effectiveness. All of the new posts will be in place by the end of May 2004. The extra police officers will be allocated according to the resource allocation formula (RAF), which reflects the policing needs of individual boroughs.

MPA Chair Toby Harris said:

“Following acceptance of the MPA’s proposed police budget by the Mayor and the London Assembly, the precept has been set at a level that will allow us to recruit over the next financial year an extra 1000 police officers over and above those already in post.

“This is good news for the Met but more importantly, it is really good news for Londoners who will see even more visible policing of their streets and neighbourhoods. Reducing the fear of crime and making our streets safer are top priorities for us.

“The RAF formula allows officers to be deployed to meet the needs of individual boroughs more accurately. It also delivers transparency about the way in which resources are allocated.

“The additional 600 officers to be posted to boroughs will give borough commanders much more scope to use officers to meet local needs.“

Commenting on the 400 extra officers for the specialist units, Toby added:

“The Authority is keen that people should realise how much of an asset to the capital these flexible specialist units are.

“Whether they are in child protection, murder squads, the firearms unit or counter-terrorism activity they are a resource available to underpin the direct delivery of local policing via territorial policing and the borough commander.”

A further development is the introduction of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). By the end of next financial year the intention is to have in post 700 PCSOs. These will be deployed across boroughs on a different basis from the RAF, using a formula that takes greater account of population properly to reflect the reassurance role, which PCSOs are specifically designed to fulfil.

This is a minimum allocation and the Authority is very keen to promote discussions between individual boroughs and the MPS about the possibility of providing further PCSOs, trained and equipped by the MPS. Adding PCSOs to the existing mix of police officers and the various local warden arrangements that exist in different parts of London is already creating a visible policing presence on a scale that could not have been imagined even two and half years ago when the Authority was set up.

The final allocations of officers and PCSOs will be approved at the full Authority meeting on 27 March.

The Authority’s budget also allows for 450-500 police officers to be freed up for frontline operational policing as part of the civilianisation of the 999 call service. In addition Transport for London’s budget includes provision to double the capacity of the Transport policing unit with a further 223 police officers and 157 PCSOs.

There will be increased funding available next year for local crime and disorder partnerships in which the MPA will now be playing a direct role. Borough commanders will be able to spend up to £50,000 to reinforce partnership initiatives. The budget includes specific allocations to improve child protection and to establish two additional rape havens.

Toby Harris has written to borough council chief executives, borough commanders, GLA members and London MPs to let them know about the overall growth in police and PCSO numbers.

Notes to editors

1. Tables are attached showing the number of officers per borough, plus the PCSO allocation.

Mayor’s 1,000 2003/04 – allocation of 601 officers across boroughs

The 601 officers are to be allocated by MPA/MPS RAF with updated census and demand data. The target figures shown may include some officers allocated to that borough who, at that date, are completing training at Hendon.

* Existing 2002/03 ‘High Tide’ Boroughs

2003/04 Allocation of PCSOs to TP Boroughs

The distribution of PCSOs to Boroughs has been agreed by the MPA/MPS Extended Police Family Programme Board

*702.5 has been used instead of 700 hundred due to rounding error

**This adjustment is necessary in order to give Camden, Kensington & Chelsea and Lambeth 30 officers

*** Lambeth are currently employing 15 PCSOs on full time security patrols

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback