For many months GLA Lib Dems have been highlighting that London police officer numbers are set to fall. Just before Christmas Mayor Boris Johnson was directly challenged about his proposed cut in Police numbers as per his draft budget for 2010-2011. These advanced warnings are now being picked up on and this week were reported in the Guardian newspaper.

Lib Dems proposed a reversal to this cut and to also allow extra police officers for boroughs with the higher gun and knife crime while reducing the overall budget. The Lib Dem proposals can be seen in the group’s budget amendment.

How will this affect Southwark and East Dulwich?
455/32 London Boroughs would result in something like one less police officer for East Dulwich. It doesn’t sound much but we only have one Police sargent and two police officers supported by five Police Community Support Officers covering East Dulwich at present.