MPA welcomes 2005/6 police budget

11/05
14 February 2005

The MPA has welcomed the Mayor’s budget agreed today 14 February 2005, which set a £2.7 billion policing budget for London for 2005/6, an increase of 6.4% on last year. The budget went through unamended by the London Assembly.

Len Duvall, Chair of the MPA, said:

“The Mayor’s budget will allow us to roll-out another 160 safer neighbourhood teams across London, so that each borough will have at least eight by April 2005.

“Safer neighbourhood teams, ring fenced to concentrate on local community policing in their borough, have reduced crime and the fear of crime. The types of crimes that make people feel most vulnerable, such as burglary, auto crime and street crime, have all fallen.

“The budget will also result in savings of a further £73 million, making a cumulative total since 2000, when the MPA came into being, of £240 million.

“Our achievements in this budget have been attained within the policing element of the Mayor’s council tax of just 24p a week (band D).

“All these efficiency savings have been ploughed back into front line policing. Police numbers are currently the highest ever in the history of the MPS and we also employ over 2000 Community Police Support Officers to patrol London’s streets.

“In 2005, the MPA, with the MPS, will be carrying out a service review to identify further efficiencies to be re-directed into policing priorities. The Authority will ensure that all extra resources achieved through this will be used to build on our successes and that effective financial management will remain a priority for the MPA.

"One of our biggest challenges will be to ensure that with more officers on our streets, they will fulfil the expectations of Londoners and achieve results - cutting crime and enhancing community safety."

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