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Mayor 'broke pledge for more police on streets'
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent13.03.08
Ken Livingstone was today accused of breaking a key re-election pledge to put 1,000 extra police on the streets of London.
The Home Office has turned down his bid for some of the extra officers meaning London will get only 800 more.
This will include an extra 97 royal and diplomatic protection officers which the Mayor had originally suggested would be out on the beat.
Mr Livingstone admitted that his original promise had been a "bit over the top".
Tory mayoral candidate Boris Johnson said: "Of the 1,000 extra officers that Mayor Livingstone said were to be policing the streets, it turns out that 300 were for royal and diplomatic protection. And now the Home Office are only providing funding for a fraction of them.
"Not only was his original pledge of 1,000 extra officers a sham but his own Government has now taken away funding for him to meet it. He is... resorting to making inflated promises to try to win this election." Liberal Democrat Assembly member Graham Tope added: "The Mayor should not make budget pledges unless he knows he has the power to enact them.
"It is clear that he does not have the support of the Home Office to provide these extra police and you have to ask why the Mayor did not ensure their backing before now."
At the time of his promise, the Mayor's office cautioned the exact increase would depend on the outcome of the Met's bid for extra funding for counter terrorism, security and Olympics planning.
There are currently 30,996 police officers, 4,012 community support officers and 14,061 civilian staff in the Met.
Mr Livingstone said today: "Even with the reduction in the designated security posts we expect to provide 1,000 extra police in London next year. This will be on top of an extra 10,000 uniformed police officers in London, an increase in uniformed officers of 39 per cent compared to 2001."
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I feel for Ken this will be his 1992 moment. He will take a hit, but he will just about stumble over the line. Why do I say this? Because in 92 the Tories scared a generation of voters with images of the 1970s as a warning of a Labour government.
Now I'm part of the generation which is tempted to vote Tory, but every time I do I have flashbacks of the awful days. The queues of unemployed, of sleaze on an industrial scale, of inner cities burning in almost annual acts of destruction and mutiny, of the health service falling to pieces quite literally, schools crumbling and education standards in many London borough's a disgrace.
Sorry Boris. I'm your target generation. I'm a Thatcher child and I'm afraid its just not long enough for the scars to heal. So come May 1st I like many more in my age group will flirt with the idea of turning Tory, but the flashbacks I have mentioned to ensure four more years for Ken.
Better the devil you know...
- Dave, North London
When it comes to ANYTHING that Mr Livingstone has to say these days it's just a case of Yawn, Yawn, Yawn . . . More hot air!
Sorry Ken but you'd best look for a job somewhere in Europe - Perhaps Peter Mandelson can grandfather into a senior position? As Peter already knows "it's money for old rope"!
In any case, London NEEDS a "change" and a breath of fresh air in City Hall!
- Fraser, Telford Park
