Minutes:
(i) At item 15(2) the Council received a Motion in the names of Councillors Sue Anderson and Phillip O’Dell in the following terms:
“This Council believes that the safety and security of Londoners, including the residents of Harrow, is being put at risk as a result of cuts to police service being pushed through by the London’s Mayor and the Coalition Government.
The Council believes that the unprecedented cuts are going too far and too fast and that these cuts to the budget of the Metropolitan Police Service will inevitably endanger families and communities across London and Harrow. This council believes that the cuts are being carried out without consideration of the impact on Londoners’ safety.
Most inadequate and sham of a consultation undertaken in Harrow by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) has raised more questions than answered. We have serious concerns about the Mayor’s proposed ‘New Policing Model’ for London and its impact on Harrow and raise the following issues:
1. Reduction of Police: There will be loss of 17 police officers as compared to police officers in the year 2010 (Reduction from 402 to 385).
2. Scrapping of the Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs):Replacing the current dedicated SNT of six in each and every ward of Harrow with only one Police Constable will see the end of the current successful ward-wide policing and leave the local areas exposed to more crime and increase the fear of crime.
3. Base Stations for SNTs: We are concerned that no assurance is given that these will not be closed.
4. Closure of Police Stations and Front Counters: We oppose the plans to close the police stations at Pinner and Wealdstone and oppose the loss of police facilities at the Harrow Civic Centre. The Mayor has promised new and better front counters before closing the police stations but we have not seen any evidence of this for any of our areas in Harrow.
5. Closure of Custody Suites: We are concerned that MOPAC has not yet finally confirmed the future of Harrow’s custody suites which are planned for closure. We are opposed to any such closure as we do not believe that the alternative of Kilburn is a viable one.
This Council challenges the Mayor’s position that the scale of the cuts are necessary and acceptable. This council calls on the Chief Executive of Harrow Council to respond to MOPAC’s consultation and oppose the Mayor’s planned changes for policing of Harrow. The Council also calls upon Harrow’s MPs and Harrow’s Assembly Member to oppose the Mayor’s plans and draconian cuts in policing which will put Harrow’s residents and community at risk from crime and the fear of crime.”
(ii) There was a tabled amendment in the names of Councillors Susan Hall and Barry Macleod-Cullinane, which sought to amend the Motion as follows:
“This Council believes that the safety and security of Londoners, including the residents of Harrow, is being put at risk as a result of cuts to police service being pushed through by the London’s Mayor and the Coalition Government and therefore calls upon the Mayor of London to publicise more vigorously that closing rarely-visited police stations and counters, the disposal of surplus police properties and reducing high-paid managers will not only release more officers to patrol our streets but also will enable the Met Police to recruit extra officers over and above the increases secured so far.
The Council believes that the unprecedented cuts are going too far and too fast and that these cuts to the budget of the Metropolitan Police Service will inevitably endanger families and communities across London and Harrow and that, to counter this false belief, the Mayor must do more to explain the positive impact on police numbers and crime levels that these changes will bring about. This council believes that the cuts are being carried out without consideration of the impact on Londoners’ safety and that the Mayor could do more to explain how public safety will be improved by more police patrolling than sitting behind desks.
Most inadequate and sham of a consultation undertaken in Harrow by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) has raised more questions than answered, not least why the MP for Harrow West left halfway through the MOPAC consultation held in Harrow. We have serious concerns about the Mayor’s proposed ‘New Policing Model’ for London and its impact on Harrow and raise the following issues:
1. Reduction of Police: There will be loss of 17 police officers as compared to police officers in the year 2010 (Reduction from 402 to 385).
2. Scrapping of the Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs): Replacing the current dedicated SNT of six in each and every ward of Harrow with only one Police Constable will see the end of the current successful ward-wide policing and leave the local areas exposed to more crime and increase the fear of crime – something not helped by this council’s decision to reduce funding of the town centre policing team.
3. Base Stations for SNTs: We are concerned that no assurance is given that these will not be closed.
4. Closure of Police Stations and Front Counters: We oppose the plans to close the police stations at Pinner and Wealdstone and oppose the loss of police facilities at the Harrow Civic Centre. The Mayor has promised new and better front counters before closing the police stations but we have not seen any evidence of this for any of our areas in Harrow.
5. Closure of Custody Suites: We are concerned that MOPAC has not yet finally confirmed the future of Harrow’s custody suites which are planned for closure. We are opposed to any such closure as we do not believe that the alternative of Kilburn is a viable one.
This Council is additionally appalled by the decision of the Council’s administration to cut the size of the Council-funded police team, while refusing to take up an offer from the MPA/MOPAC which would have allowed it to be increased in size while still saving money.
This Council also notes the various public comments from the new councillor for West Harrow regarding police numbers, and therefore encourages and invites her to add her voice to the campaign against the police cuts made by the Council’s administration.
This Council challenges the Mayor’s position that the scale of the cuts are necessary and acceptable. This council calls on the Chief Executive of Harrow Council to respond to MOPAC’s consultation and oppose the Mayor’s planned changes for policing of Harrow, as well as to note how this council has already cut its local funding for policing in Harrow, whilst, under the Mayor of London’s plans, police numbers would rise. The Council also calls upon Harrow’s MPs and Harrow’s Assembly Member to oppose the Mayor’s plans and draconian cuts in policing, except in so far as they will reduce crime and the fear of crime in Harrow.”
(iii) Upon a vote, the amendment at (ii) was lost.
(iv) Upon a further vote the substantive Motion at (i) was agreed.
RESOLVED: That the substantive Motion, as set out at (i) above, be adopted.