Keeping Bromley cops local a 'significant problem'

Officers in Bromley and other outer London areas are often ‘abstracted’ to central London to help with protests, major events and football matches. 

In April this year Bromley borough officers spent 10 per cent of their on-duty time providing support at events outside the borough or providing backfill for emergency response teams, according to Met Police data. 

Superintendent Luke Baldock, head of neighbourhood policing in Bromley, told the News Shopper: “It has been a significant problem for some time. 

“We have had one protest or central London issue morph into another. That’s not to put down their importance but we've had the Middle East demonstrations, things like Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, the recent riots, Notting Hill Carnival. 

“The Commissioner [Sir Mark Rowley] has been really clear he wants to do something about this and make sure neighbourhood officers can spend more time in their communities.” 

Superintendent Luke Baldock (Image: Met Police) Superintendent Baldock said it is encouraging that more non-Basic Command Unit officers, such as officers in specialist units, were drafted in for Notting Hill Carnival this year rather than local officers. 

“I came in on Sunday morning before my shift at Notting Hill Carnival and the nick was full of Bromley officers on their normal patrols. That never usually happens on Notting Hill weekend, so I do think we’re seeing changes that mean Bromley cops are staying in Bromley more – though it is still an issue,” he said. 

Local officers are abstracted to help police Just Stop Oil, Extinction Rebellion and recent far-right protesters (Image: PA) Read more - The crime hotspots in Bromley as revealed by neighbourhood policing boss

On the wider issue of staffing, Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said in February that the force would be 1,400 officers short amid recruitment struggles. 

He added that there were around 5,000 fewer officers in the Met than a decade ago. 

But Superintendent Baldock said Bromley seems to be somewhat sheltered from this issue. 

“Bromley does seem to be an attractive place to work for a variety of reasons. On my neighbourhood teams at the moment I’m not carrying many vacancies,” he said. 

Officers on patrol on East Street in Bromley town centre (Image: NQ) In an interview with the News Shopper Superintendent Baldock also revealed the two crime hotspots in the town centre and how his team will crack down on shoplifting. 

He said they have increased patrols in those areas which has led to a reduction in robbery and knife crime. 

Superintendent Baldock said: “I universally find that the one thing we get asked is can we see more police.

"People seem to be very receptive in Bromley and are happy to see us. We don’t get that tension or the sense that our patrols are an imposition on the public or something that the community in any way resents.”