Bring police officers back to Hackney

Over the past five years Hackney has lost 170 police officers. In October 2010 we had 770, now we have about 600. This 22 per cent cut is by far the largest when compared to equivalent boroughs.

Hackney has also suffered a cut in Police and Crime Support Officer's (PSCOs) from 100 to just 37.

For the first time in many years, crime, particularly violent offences, and the fear of crime is rising in our borough.

Our officers are overstretched. Such is the pressure that the police have had to disband Operation Bantam, which for over a decade had been a critical element of the borough's response to gang violence. Where we once had a team of 40 officers dedicated to gangs, we now have six.

I fully support Hackney Council's campaign calling on the Met and the Greater London Authority to return 100 officers to Hackney. This would at least return us to the 685 target set out in the Mayor of London's Police and Crime Plan 2013-16.

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