HearFromYourMP

Messages for this constituency

Review of Safer Neighbourhood Policing must not be a ‘cover for cuts’

Posted by Karen Buck, MP for Westminster North, at 12:28, Thu 9 December 2010:

Dear constituent,

London’s 630 Safer Neighbourhood Police teams have changed the way we police communities since they were introduced in 2004. Local teams are connected to their areas, providing reassurance and boosting ‘intelligence led policing’.

The Metropolitan Police Service has just, however, announced a ‘review of the how we deliver borough-based policing services’.

This is against the backdrop of massive cuts in the Home Office budget, including a 20% cut in police funding, a previously projected cut of over 450 police officers arising from the Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s budget decisions and the £100 million costs of electing Police Commissioners – estimated to be the equivalent to 600 police officers. It also comes after Westminster City Council withdrew the City Guardian scheme this summer.

The ‘review of Safer Neighbourhoods’ will look at the areas Safer Neighbourhood Teams cover, what the teams deliver and their structure. Although the letter introducing the review says ‘we would seek to protect the resources in neighbourhood teams’, it also goes on to say:

“...if we do need to reduce numbers, we will seek to do this relative to each borough.’

I am seeking a meeting with Westminster’s Borough Commander to discuss these issues but I would also like to hear YOUR views.

I welcome any comments but I would be particularly interested in knowing:

• If you have had any contact with your Safer Neighbourhood Teams and if so what your experience was like? • Whether you believe Safer Neighbourhood Teams should continue to be organised on the basis of local authority wards? • If cuts in police numbers should hit Safer Neighbourhood Teams rather than other police services? • If you are in favour of public elections for a local Police Commissioner?

Please let me know your responses at BUCKK@parliament.uk or via the contact page on my website at www.karenbuck.org.uk

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes, Karen Buck MP (Westminster North)