Tracey Hits Back On Merton Police Numbers

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Assembly Member's Letter to the Editor

London Assembly Member Richard Tracey has hit back at Labour claims that police numbers in Merton have been cut.

Labour has said that the latest figures show that the number of police officers in the borough fell by six at the end of 2011.

But Mr Tracey (left), AM for Merton and Wandsworth, says there have been "natural fluctuations" in police numbers.

In a letter to the editor, he writes:

"Your article 'Merton Police Numbers Are Cut'  is misleading. Police numbers, overall, are up under Boris Johnson in spite of national cuts to policing.

Due to the recent recruitment of police officers from London’s pool of PCSOs, the PCSO numbers in Safer Neighbourhood teams may appear to be down. However these should be filled very shortly indeed. 

There are crude political reasons why some people may be choosing to highlight what are simply natural fluctuations in police numbers. Such fluctuations occur due to ongoing retirement and recruitment flows every single year. 

What’s important is that crime has fallen by 10% since Boris Johnson became Mayor; and Merton is sharing in this successful fight against crime."

Richard Tracey AM
Greater London Assembly Member for Merton

March 2, 2011