Minutes:
The Council received an urgent Motion in the names of Councillor Graham Henson and Councillor David Perry.
“Urgent Motion to Stop the Mayor of London putting our residents at risk
This Council notes:
· Harrow is currently the safest Borough in London.
· Since May 2010, as a result of the Conservative Government cuts, London has lost 3,170 dedicated neighbourhood Police Community Safety Officers (PCSOs) – this is a cut of over 70%.
· In Harrow the number of PCSOs on our streets have been reduced from 114 in April 2010 to 28 in August 2015.
· As a result of the Government’s Spending Review in 2010 the Metropolitan Police have faced cuts of almost £600m. This 20% cut to its budget has devastated the police service in the capital, despite promises from the Mayor of London and Home Secretary that the cuts would not affect police numbers.
· At the upcoming Government’s Spending Review this November it is widely expected that the Metropolitan Police will face a minimum of another £800m in cuts, with reports that the budget could be cut by as much as 43%.
· The ‘Safer Neighbourhood Team’ (SNT) model introduced by the Labour Government was widely welcomed by communities and saw each ward allocated a dedicated team of six officers (1 Sergeant, 2 PCs and 3 PCSOs).
· In Harrow PCSOs are an invaluable part of making our communities and neighbourhoods safe.
· In Harrow fear of crime is a real concern amongst residents; cutting neighbourhood policing teams and PCSOs will reduce the presence of police on our streets and only add to the fear of crime locally.
· The introduction of Boris Johnson's Local Policing Model dismantled SNTs reducing them to just a single dedicated PC and PCSO per ward.
· On the 29th September the Metropolitan Police's Management Board will consider proposals to scrap neighbourhood PCSOs altogether, resulting in a loss of over 1,000 officers if approved.
This Council believes:
· That the introduction of neighbourhood policing teams transformed local policing, increased public confidence and provided an integral link between communities and the police.
· That whilst PCSOs have been informed of the Metropolitan Police’s intention to make this decision there has been no meaningful consultation with Council’s, the public or PCSOs about the impact of scrapping PCSOs.
· The Mayor is trying to force through measures that put our residents at risk, whilst hoping nobody realises; this lack of transparency shows that the Mayor of London is aware of how damaging these cuts will be to our communities.
· Scrapping neighbourhood PCSOs would be the final nail in the coffin for neighbourhood policing as SNTs would be reduced to just a single dedicated PC. This would make residents feel more unsafe in their neighbourhoods.
· A further cut of £800m to the Metropolitan Police would devastate local policing and make our communities and residents in Harrow less safe, whilst putting at risk all of the excellent work the Police, Harrow Council and community stakeholders have achieved in making Harrow a safe place to live and work.
This Council resolves:
· To write to the Home Secretary, the Mayor of London, the Mayor of London candidates, local MPs and Assembly member in opposition to further cuts to our Safer Neighbourhood teams and police numbers in Harrow.
· To condemn attempts to reshape London's police force by stealth and call on the Mayor and Metropolitan Police to set out the true impact of Government cuts and engage in a meaningful consultation with Londoners about the future of policing in the capital.
· To locally campaign to save our local police services to keep our residents safe.”
Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.
RESOLVED: That the Motion as set out above be adopted.