Below is a letter from the Mayor of London, , to the Home Secretary on:
- Government cuts hitting the Metropolitan Police’s ability to
police protests
- Putting him on notice of a claim for compensation for the
cost of policing the current protests
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rt Hon MP
Home Secretary
The Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF
Dear Sajid,
I am writing in relation to the climate change protests in
central London this week, and the increasing cost to the
Metropolitan Police of policing the growing number of protests in
London over recent years. This has included the regular protests
both for and against Brexit, which are likely to continue in the
coming weeks and months, and the likelihood of those around
President Trump’s reported visit to the UK.
As you are aware, choices about how to police protests in London
are operational decisions for the Met Commissioner. Cressida Dick
and her dedicated officers have my full support in doing this
incredibly difficult job on behalf of our city.
I support the right to peaceful and lawful protest – which is a
cornerstone of our democracy. But this right must be balanced
against the need to ensure the safety and security of all
Londoners, as well as the continued running of our city. The Met
take a consistent approach to protests regardless of the cause
that motivates the protestors.
However, the Met’s ability to police protests without impacting
on core policing priorities – such as tackling knife crime – has
been made significantly harder by the huge cuts to Government
police funding. As you are aware, Government cuts have forced the
Met to make £850 million of cuts since 2010, which has led to the
loss of over 3,200 officers and over 3,300 PCSO’s in London.
Furthermore, the Government continues to underfund the Met’s
National and International Capital Cities (NICC) Grant by £95
million compared to the amount recommended by Sir Richard
Mottram’s expert panel. In light of these financial constraints,
I will be working with the Met to consider whether a Special
Grant claim is justified to compensate for the costs of policing
the current protests.
I was disappointed earlier this week, to learn that the
Government has still not allocated the full £100 million promised
to police forces in the Spring Statement to help tackle violent
crime, despite assurances that this money would be made
immediately available to help in the weeks and months ahead. More
than a month after the Spring Statement, only £51 million of this
funding has yet been allocated. Even the limited amount made
available so far was allocated too late to help the Met keep
Londoners safe over the Easter holidays.
Whether to tackle violent crime, or police protests, our brave
police officers deserve the resources they need to keep us safe.
Once again, I ask you to reverse the cuts to police funding that
your Government has made since 2010, and to fully fund the NICC
Grant.
Yours sincerely,
Mayor of London
Cc: Rt Hon Hick Hurd, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire
Service and Minister for London
, Chief of Staff, 10 Downing
Street
