Neighbourhood policing in London faces £80 million cuts

Scotland Yard is scaling back the number of senior officers and back-room staff it employs in an overhaul of neighbourhood policing.

A review of local beat policing in London has been ordered in a shake-up expected to save up to £80 million in three years. The move is set to streamline functions in areas such as human resources, finance and transport.

Assistant Commissioner Ian McPherson, the newly appointed head of erritorial Policing, said the aim of his review was to safeguard front-line numbers in the face of expected government budget cuts.

Mr McPherson said the force would maintain local ward policing teams — despite reports they could be cut. He said: "Safer Neighbourhood teams are the foundation of what we do. They are absolutely front-line policing and we are committed to having Safer Neighbourhoods across London."

But he admitted the force was examining the back-room roles, saying: "There are things like administration, some of our HR, some of our finance departments, transport issues, where there is no reason why they also need to be split into 32 boroughs."

Read the full story in the Evening Standard.............