The new analysis also revealed a further 13% of local police officers were taken away from their local beats for extended periods, meaning the number of officers on the beat in our area was even lower.

* West Central covers the London Boroughs of Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham.

In Kensington & Chelsea specifically

Local police officers are down...

🔻19% fewer officers in 2023 Vs 2021

🔻Drop to 53 K&C dedicated ward officers in 2023 from 66 in 2021

🔻Loss of the equivalent capacity of 8 officers over the whole of 2023 as officers are abstracted and taken off local beats. 

... while crime is up!

🔺39% higher than the average across the whole of London

🔺Rose by a staggering 19% from 2020 to 2023

❗Makes Kensington & Chelsea the second worst Borough for crime in the whole city, only behind Westminster

Police numbers have fallen sharply even though government money is available to increase the number of police officers. This is because:

• Retention has fallen and recruitment is not sufficient to compensate.
• Police pay, like other public sector pay, has lagged the private sector for years.
• Increased administrative burden and physical distancing from communities contribute to a perceived lack of attractiveness of the profession.

• Restoring community policing, by rededicating ward officers close to the communities they serve, helping them rebuild and redevelop link with communities. 
• Opening new Community Police Hubs to account for the closure of so many police stations.
• Launching a huge new recruitment drive for administrative staff to free up the thousands of officers that the Commissioner currently says are stuck doing backroom duties.
• Investing in technology and infrastructure, upgrading IT platforms for the capture and remote access of digital forensics.
• Refocus resources on crimes that matter, stop wasting time and capacity on the ones that don't.

The Liberal Democrat London Assembly Candidate for West Central, Christophe Noblet, is keen to hear from you! 

Want to get in touch? Email: [email protected]

Data sources: London Datastore / MPS Dedicated-ward-officer-abstractions and Crimerate.co.uk

This email was sent to John xxxxxx at [email protected]. 

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Kensington and Chelsea Liberal Democrats
1 Vincent Square
London, England SW1P 2PN
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Published and promoted by Mike Dixon on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, 1 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PN