John Biggs AM calls on Mayor to reverse police cuts in face of rising crime

Local London Assembly member John Biggs today called on the Mayor to reverse his police cuts as it was revealed that East London has lost 132 officers in the last two years.

In March 2010 there were 2,083 based in East London. By December last year the number had fallen to 1,951. Across London the Mayor has cut 1,700 police officers in the last two years.

The most recent Metropolitan Police crime figures, released two weeks ago, revealed that robbery rose by 36.4 per cent in Tower Hamlets in the last year and Robbery rose by 21.2 per cent in Barking & Dagenham in the last year.

Borough	31-Mar-10	01-Dec-11	Reduction
Barking & Dagenham	446.34	430.54	15.80
Newham	816.10	775.94	40.16
Tower Hamlets	820.72	744.35	76.37
City & East	2,083.16	1,950.83	132.33

Figures provided by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime.

Local Labour Assembly member John Biggs said: “These figures reveal the full extent of Boris Johnson’s police cuts. Rather than embracing the government’s cuts to the police we need a Mayor who will make sure we have enough police on our streets.”

“The loss of officers is completely unacceptable. As Robbery, Burglary & Theft are rising in East London we need more police on our streets, not less. That’s why I’m calling on the Mayor to protect the police to help keep our streets safe for all of us.”

While overall crime in London is down 1 per cent in the last year, certain types of violent crime including burglary, robbery and muggings have risen significantly:

Barking & Dagenham:

Robbery personal property up 21.2%

Burglary total up 7.3%

Theft of motor vehicle up 18.3%

Theft person up 8.1%

Tower Hamlets:

Wounding/GBH up 19.5%

Total sexual up 16.3%

Robbery personal property up 36.4%

Burglary total up 15.5%

Theft from motor vehicle up 20.7%

Theft person up 23.6%

Total offences up 4.5%