Hackney Labour Party

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Police cuts in Hackney

Hackney is facing a reduction of 85 police officers – from 770 in 2010 to 685 police officers in 2015. 

The Conservative Mayor of London's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) has published a draft policing and crime plan.  The plan outlines the future for policing in Hackney and how the Metropolitan Police will deliver £500million of cuts by 2015.

The plan confirms a worrying shift away from ward based policing. It proposes a new model to be rolled out across London – the Local Policing Model. 

Police officers will be working across a neighbourhood consisting of 4-5 wards.   Safer Neighbourhood Teams which are currently in every ward will only have a named sergeant, one PC and one PCSO.   This is a move away from having a full dedicated ward team, visible in the local community. The link between residents and the police is being put at risk.

The plan also proposes changes to police stations in Hackney.  Stoke Newington police station will retain a 24 hour front counter service, Shoreditch will provide a day time service and Hackney police station will close and be sold.  The police are committed to providing appointments and the public can report crimes by phone and online.

Labour's Hackney crime lead, Cllr Sophie Linden said: "I am very worried that the government's drastic cuts to the police budget will put at risk the significant reductions in crime that Hackney has seen over the last 10 years. We have a very good partnership with the police that has seen crime fall by 30% in the last ten years, with nearly 12,000 fewer victims of crime.

"We now know that Hackney faces a significant reduction in police officers.  We will be lobbying the Mayor of London to ensure that Hackney gets the police numbers we need to continue to fight crime.   Safer Neighbourhood Teams have been a huge success in Hackney and we are very concerned that this strong link with residents is now at risk

"No one likes to see a police station close.   We want a commitment not just to a minimum of one 24 hour station but to a good day time counter service available for all residents in the borough".