Metropolitan police figures reveal truth about Boris Johnson's huge police cuts

Today (21.01.2012) Boris Johnson has claimed "there will be no cut to police numbers in London.''

This is completely untrue and at odds with the Metropolitan Police's own figures. The latest figures from the police have confirmed that Boris Johnson has cut 1,782 police officers in the last 18 months.
•        In March 2010 there were from 33,260 police officers in London
•        By October 2011 there were just 31,478 police officers in London
•        During the last year violent crimes have risen including: knife crime (up 13%), robbery (up 13%), rape (up 10.6%) and homicide (up 7.6%)


A spokesperson for Ken Livingstone said:
 
"This time last year Boris Johnson promised to increase the number of police officers in London by this year. In fact they fell by over 900 in just one year and over 1700 in the last 18 months according to the Metropolitan Police.
 
'On the Tory Mayor's watch violent crimes including knife crime, robbery, rape and murder have all risen while he has cut over 1700 police officers since March 2010.
 
'Keeping Londoners safe in their streets and in their homes must be the Mayor's first priority. Boris Johnson's police cuts are undermining the fight against crime and making Londoners less safe. Only a Mayor who is out of touch would cut the police while violent crimes are rising.”

 
1. Boris Johnson's broken police promises:
On 10th February 2011 Boris Johnson said: "This £42?million investment will make the capital the envy of every police force in Britain and not cost Londoners a penny more. Sadly, forces across the UK are battling budgets and suffering the inevitable cuts, but here we will buck the trend and have more uniformed fully warranted police officers than ever before."

2. Violent crimes rising under Boris Johnson:
Crime statistics in London show:
•    Robbery & theft from a person is up 13%
•    Rape is up 10.6%
•    Homicide is up 7.6%
•    Residential burglary is up 8.8%
•    Knife crime is up 13.6%. Additionally, the numbers of victims of all types of knife crime in the 13-24 age group in London increasing by 12% in the last year, and by 29% since 2008.
 
3. Metropolitan Police officer numbers 2008 - 2011:
Date                          Police officer numbers
31/03/2008       -        31,398
31/03/2009)      -        32,543         
31/03/2010)      -        33,260         
31/01/2011)      -        32,380
31/10/2011)      -        31,478