BROMLEY borough has one of the largest shortfalls in police manpower in London, according to new figures.
Figures from the Greater London Authority (GLA) show the number of Bromley officers at the end of August 2001 was 419 8.5 per cent less than the required number of 458.
Only Barnet, which is 9.5 per cent under-staffed, is worse off in the outer London boroughs.
Many officers already serving in Bromley frequently work outside the borough on security operations in central London and policing football matches.
As the News Shopper reported last week, Bromley Tories are proposing a motion calling on Mayor Ken Livingstone to increase policing levels in the borough. They are also calling on Home Secretary David Blunkett to fund the additional officers required in central London.
The council's deputy leader Councillor Graham Arthur said: "Crime may be much worse in many other boroughs, but the first responsibility has to be the people of Bromley."
Acting borough commander Superintendent David White said since the release of the figures, the number of officers had risen from 419 to 428.
This means Bromley is still 30 officers, or 6.5 per cent, below its target.
Supt White said Bromley was "unlikely to get an increase in the number of officers" when, at the beginning of December, the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) determines the borough's quota.
Every week during the football season, 20 officers are away on policing duties at matches.
"We have to provide officers for public order events, otherwise the responsibility would fall unfairly on those boroughs with the football grounds," said Supt White.
"We also send an average of one sergeant and seven constables every day to central London because of the terrorist threat but the figure fluctuates and can be quite considerable depending on the day.
"However, we are using overtime to maintain our numbers on the streets of Bromley."
A spokesman for the MPA said: "We have asked the Home Secretary to provide additional financing for the security issue."
November 14, 2001 9:17
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