Key information
Petition presented by: Valerie Shawcross
Date petition submitted: Wednesday 7 March 2012
Petition presented at: London Assembly Plenary
Summary of petition
“We, the undersigned, never want there to be riots in Croydon again. We therefore call upon the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to reverse his decision, supported by David Cameron, to cut 1,800 police officers in London over the next three years, and also to drop his plan as Mayor to cut 300 police sergeants from London’s 630 Safer Neighbourhood Teams. We call for an increase in police numbers and local Safer Neighbourhood Teams.”
Response information
Name of person responding: The Mayor
Response date: Friday 25 May 2012
“Dear Val
Thank you for the petition presented to the London Assembly plenary meeting on 7 March about police numbers and local Safer Neighbourhood Teams. I apologise for the delay in responding to you.
I have promised to keep police numbers in London at a safe level, which I have said on numerous occasions is approximately 32,000 warranted officers.
Whilst maintaining police numbers is crucial, I have also ensured that several other mechanisms have been put in place to increase the number of officers available when they are most needed, focusing on increasing the number of special constables available across London, and ensuring that where possible, police officers are patrolling on their own rather than in pairs or groups, thus improving the visibility of officers.
In respect of the reassignment of sager neighbourhood sergeants, you will be aware that I have subsequently announced that I am boosting SNTs by 2000 officers across London. This will more than offset the changes to which you refer.”