Boris walks away…
Boris Johnson today resigned as chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, reportedly through lack of time – but no sign of him giving up his £250,000 second job on the Daily Telegraph….isn’t it time he put Londoners first? You can not just walk away when you get bored.
He also published his budget which at Page 6 point 5.16 he admits that police numbers are to be cut. ( I reproduce the section below). In plain laguage they are to recruit 900 civilians to do work currently done by police officers releasing 550 to front line service but LOSING the other 450 altogether. So thats a cut in Police Numbers. But when asking for you vote he said this
“I will provide strong leadership by taking responsibility and chairing the Metropolitan Police Authority and using my influence to tear up red tape and needless form-filling, so we can get more police out on the streets.”
and:
“It is important for the Mayor to take a public lead, so I will chair the Metropolitan Police AuthoritI will provide strong leadership by taking responsibility and chairing the Metropolitan Police Authority and using my influence to tear up red tape and needless form-filling, so we can get more police out on the streets.”
EXTRACT FROM BUDGET
5.16 Police officer numbers are to remain broadly unchanged over the forward planning period to 2012-13 with a forecast small decrease of 455 officers being offset by an increasing frontline presence through the Operation Herald scheme. This scheme involves recruiting 900 civilians to undertake the routine work in custody suites thereby allowing 550 officers to be released to frontline duties over the next three years.
