The Mayor of London, , is on track to deliver at least
two dedicated neighbourhood PCs across all of London by the end
of this year, with more than half of London’s neighbourhoods now
covered.
The move towards dedicated ward officers, who know and are known
by the community, is ’s first step to re-establishing
real neighbourhood policing
Having officers based in a specific area means stronger relations
between Londoners and their police officers, where local
communities are served by dedicated officers they know and trust,
and who understand the area and people they police.
today confirmed that since
introducing the plans in July last year, 295 new dedicated ward
officers have been appointed and are now helping to police London
neighbourhoods.
He also confirmed that all of London’s 629 wards – smaller
sections of parliamentary constituencies - will have a minimum of
two dedicated ward PCs and a dedicated Police Community Support
Officer by the end of this year, with additional dedicated
officers allocated according to local need.
The Mayor repeated his commitment to maintain the strategic
target of 32,000 police officers across London, but warned that
it would become increasingly difficult given the huge financial
pressures facing the Met – particularly if there are further cuts
from the government’s review of the police funding formula
expected later this year.
This morning, the Mayor joined Assistant Commissioner Martin
Hewitt in Kentish Town to meet the two Dedicated Ward Officers
and PCSO.
The Mayor of London, , said: “As Mayor, the safety of
all Londoners is my highest priority and this starts with real
neighbourhood policing. Today, I am pleased to be able to
announce that we have delivered a second dedicated PC in 295
London wards.
"By the end of this year there will be two dedicated ward PCs and
a dedicated Police Community Support Officer in every London
neighbourhood. Our local officers should both know the community
and be known by the community. Their local knowledge helps to
prevent and detect crime, and they are the local eyes and ears of
our security services.
"They are essential to improving trust and confidence in our
police and keeping our communities safe. I am determined to
maintain the strategic target of 32,000 police officers across
London, but I want to be honest with Londoners that this will get
increasingly difficult given the huge scale of government cuts to
the Metropolitan Police Service.”
Assistant Commissioner, Martin Hewitt said: “Neighbourhood
policing is at the heart of our work and in maintaining strong
links with our communities. I am delighted with the progress we
have already made to increase the number of Dedicated Ward
Officers (DWOs) across London as more DWOs means that those links
can be strengthened even further.”
The return to real neighbourhood policing is central to the
Mayor’s new draft Police and Crime plan. All Londoners are
invited to feed into the current public consultation which
concludes in February.
The 295 newly dedicated ward officers are drawn from existing
non-dedicated neighbourhood roles, and ‘ring-fenced’ from being
called away to other duties. Until last year most wards had just
one dedicated PC and one dedicated PCSO, with two dedicated PCs
in around 100 of the highest-harm wards. Today’s announcement
brings the total number of dedicated ward officers to 1,024, with
all 629 wards to have a second dedicated officer by the end of
this year.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The new draft Police and Crime Plan is available for
everybody to read online by visiting: www.london.gov.uk/police-plan
- The Mayor invites everyone to respond via the website or by
emailing consultation@mopac.london.gov.uk
- Throughout the consultation the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor for
Policing and Crime and MOPAC will continue to engage with the
Met, stakeholders, partners, central Government and the community
to better understand views on the priorities laid out in the
plan.
- The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime has scheduled a
number of workshops on the plan with senior leaders at the Met to
ensure joint delivery plans are created.
