Increase police numbers in Southwark

The Issue

We’re calling on the Mayor of London to increase police numbers on the streets of Southwark. Here’s why.


The situation:

  • In 2010, Southwark had 957 police officers and 112 PSCOs.
  • Two years ago, the Mayor made an election promise to not reduce the number of police officers in Southwark
  • Since 2010, police numbers have dropped by 20%
  • This means a loss of 194 officers.
  • In addition, the number of PCSOs has been significantly reduced.
  • New changes introduced by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) mean officers have moved from ward level support to larger clusters with fewer opportunities to engage with local residents


 

Despite the reduction in police numbers, the council has pressed on with innovative community safety initiatives, including partnering with women's charity Solace to provide support to victims of domestic abuse and victim centered schemes run in partnership with Victim Support.

 

Why does this matter?

Southwark has made great strides in crime and disorder and only last year recorded a 25 per cent reduction in violent crime and 28 per cent reduction in gun crime since 2010. It’s really important to maintain this progress with a strengthened local police force that continues its successful relationship with the council.

 

How can I support this campaign?

Sign the petition and share it with your friends and family. The more people that show their support, the more impact we can have.

avatar of the starter
Southwark CouncilPetition Starter
Media enquiries
This petition had 360 supporters

The Issue

We’re calling on the Mayor of London to increase police numbers on the streets of Southwark. Here’s why.


The situation:

  • In 2010, Southwark had 957 police officers and 112 PSCOs.
  • Two years ago, the Mayor made an election promise to not reduce the number of police officers in Southwark
  • Since 2010, police numbers have dropped by 20%
  • This means a loss of 194 officers.
  • In addition, the number of PCSOs has been significantly reduced.
  • New changes introduced by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) mean officers have moved from ward level support to larger clusters with fewer opportunities to engage with local residents


 

Despite the reduction in police numbers, the council has pressed on with innovative community safety initiatives, including partnering with women's charity Solace to provide support to victims of domestic abuse and victim centered schemes run in partnership with Victim Support.

 

Why does this matter?

Southwark has made great strides in crime and disorder and only last year recorded a 25 per cent reduction in violent crime and 28 per cent reduction in gun crime since 2010. It’s really important to maintain this progress with a strengthened local police force that continues its successful relationship with the council.

 

How can I support this campaign?

Sign the petition and share it with your friends and family. The more people that show their support, the more impact we can have.

avatar of the starter
Southwark CouncilPetition Starter
Media enquiries

The Decision Makers

The Mayor of London
The Mayor of London
Mr Boris Johnson
Responded
“Dear Petitioner Thank you for the petition submitted on the change.org website about increasing police numbers in Southwark. The Mayor has set out his commitment to maintain police numbers in his Police and Crime Plan. Unlike other parts of the country, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is in the midst of a major recruitment drive – hiring 5,000 new police officers so numbers can be kept at around 32,000. Furthermore, these police officers are being moved to the front lines where they are needed most – there will be an extra 2,600 officers in neighbourhoods by 2015. The most reasonable year of comparison for current and planned borough headcount is 2011, not 2010. This is because the 2011 baseline excludes 910 officers across London whose roles are now delivered centrally under the new Local Policing Model (LPM). The correct baseline for Southwark is therefore the figure published in the Police and Crime Plan: 814 total borough officers with 62 officers working in neighbourhoods. The commitment to Southwark in the Police and Crime Plan was to increase the total borough compliment of officers to 816 by 2015. Following further changes to deliver a more efficient service and free up additional officer resource, 50 officers who previously would have been considered under the Borough Commander’s headcount are now reporting centrally. These officers will be working in Intelligence, Resources and Custody and it is important to recognise that they will continue to provide a borough service. As a result of these operational changes the new 2015 officer target for Southwark is 766. Including 57 recruits from the recent recruitment drive, Southwark has 761 officers and will soon achieve full strength. Although there have been changes to the target borough number since the publication of the Police and Crime Plan, the safer neighbourhood numbers have not changed. The decision to put an extra 2,600 officers in neighbourhoods means that there will be an increase in the number in Southwark from 62 in 2011 to 178 by 2015, an increase of 116 with most of these officers now in post. Yours sincerely Public Liaison Officer Greater London Authority ”

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Petition created on 10 September 2014