The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has called for police numbers in the capital to be maintained following a report on last year's riots. The report, jointly conducted by The Guardian and the London School of Economics, was entitled 'Reading the Riots'. Johnson said the report was "very helpful to all of us who want to campaign for higher police numbers". Metropolitan police officers interviewed for the report raised concerns about their ability to deal with future riots as a result of budget cuts. The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime has repeatedly pledged to keep up police staffing numbers, which had risen by 761 to 32,159 since March 2008. However, Johnson is under pressure following a report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) which identified the Met as one of three police forces that may not be able to provide a "sufficiently efficient or effective service" as a result of funding cuts. Disquiet over cuts in frontline officers was expressed by Johnson's deputy mayor for policing, Stephen Greenhalgh, who warned of "tough" years ahead as he admitted that officer numbers could fall.
Johnson recently assured the parenting website Mumsnet that there would be no repeat of last summer's riots because the disturbances served as a "huge wake-up call to deal with the underlying causes". However, during questions from the London assembly, Johnson said the interviews with 130 police officers of all ranks in the 'Reading the Riots' report, not only "underscore the excellent work done" by officers but also underlined the need for the capital to maintain frontline policing numbers. The officers warned that further disorder was likely, with many citing worsening social and economic conditions as the potential cause.
The sudden departure of two senior figures in the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime less than a month before the start of the London 2012 Olympics, and just weeks after Greenhalgh took up his post, has raised questions. Catherine Crawford, the chief executive of MOPC, and her deputy, Jane Harwood, both left on the same day, and no reason has been given for their departure. The email they sent to colleagues stated, "We are very sorry that it has not been possible to see all of you face-to-face to tell you that today is our last day in the office. The timing has been outside our control."
The 'Reading the Riots' report is significant because it highlights the concerns of police officers and their ability to deal with future riots. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is calling for police numbers to be maintained to ensure the safety of the public. This is important because the public need to feel safe in their communities and they rely on the police to provide this. Furthermore, with the London 2012 Olympics fast approaching, it is crucial that the police force is fully staffed and equipped to deal with any potential threats or disturbances. The sudden departure of two senior figures in the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime is also of concern, as it raises questions about the stability of the organisation at a crucial time. The public need to be assured that the Mayor's Office is functioning efficiently and effectively to ensure their safety during the Olympics and beyond.
Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash, and here.
