Susan Hall promises 1,500 new Met Police officers and slams Sadiq Khan
| Published date | 10 April 2024 |
| Publication title | MyLondon (England) |
Her plan would see two police bases opened in every borough, which would help to address, she claims, the 36 police stations closed under Mr Khan. Ms Hall adds that new officers would help stop crimes and 'rebuild trust' with communities.
But a spokesperson for Labour's City Hall incumbent has hit back, saying the Conservative candidate is making 'bogus unfunded pledges she simply can’t deliver'. Mr Khan's team adds that, despite cuts to the Metropolitan Police Service's budget, the mayor has 'ensured every London borough has kept open a police front counter'.
Speaking this morning Wednesday, April 10 at the site of the former police station in Eltham, Ms Hall described closures of police bases as 'disgraceful and dangerous'. She also said that police officers are often having to be based 'miles away from the communities they serve'.
In addition, Ms Hall promised that she would 'halt the closure of any further police stations' that she says would providing 'more security for locals currently at-risk of crime'.
Londoners 'at the mercy of criminals'
Ms Hall, said: “Londoners have been forced to watch as Sadiq Khan has shut down police stations, leaving us at the mercy of criminals. Every day, when I listen to Londoners across the city, I hear and feel their fear about spiralling crime affecting them, their families and their local communities.
"If you place your faith in me as mayor, I will stop the closure of any further police stations, open two police bases in every single borough to ensure there is always a police presence local to you, and I will recruit 1,500 new police officers, getting them back on the beat fighting crime.
"It is just not good enough for Sadiq Khan to underfund our police, when he has poured millions down the drain on beach parties, trade union bailouts and PR stunts. No mayor should ever prioritise saving money over saving lives, and that is precisely why we need to vote for change on May 2.”
A spokesperson for Mr Khan said: “The Tory candidate is making bogus unfunded pledges she simply can’t deliver. The Tories have cut £1bn from the Met budget in real terms since 2010, and the last Tory Mayor Boris Johnson closed over 60 police stations when he was Mayor.
"Due to Tory funding cuts, Susan’s Hall unfunded commitments are based on money that simply doesn’t exists. This mayoral election is a clear choice between Sadiq...
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