Row over policing numbers in London as Khan under pressure to hit election pledge

The London mayor promised to put 1,300 extra police officers, community support officers and special constables on the streets by 2028, reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter

Sadiq Khan poses with Met Police officers (credit James O'Jenkins-City Hall) — Sadiq Khan poses with Met Police officers (credit James O’Jenkins-City Hall)

City Hall has been criticised for blaming the previous Conservative government’s funding of policing in London for the current shortfall of officers.

The Metropolitan Police has recently announced that it needs 38,000 officers and 19,000 staff based on London’s population and a comparison to other police forces internationally.

However – despite record investment from City Hall – Met Police officer numbers have fallen from 34,523 in April 2023 to 31,181 in March 2026, around 400 less than when Sir Sadiq Khan took office a decade ago.

Over the same period, police staff have increased from 10,359 to 11,558 and the number of police community support officers (PCSO) have increased from 1,208 to 1,389 – though this is still far short of the Met’s ambitions.

Despite the fall, the mayor has continued to insist he will hit his 2024 manifesto pledge to put 1,300 extra police officers, community support officers and special constables on the streets of London by the next election in 2028.

Earlier this week, deputy mayor for policing Kaya Comer-Schwartz blamed the reduction in police officers on a “decade of underfunding” from the previous Tory government.

“We are working to stabilise for this year and recognise the manifesto pledges we have around neighbourhood officers,” she said.

“Tough choices had to be made last year, and that’s why we’re here. It’s the cumulative impact of years of underfunding – the tough choices had to be moved forward.”

The Met has been forced to make a number of cost-saving measures in recent months, including reducing the number of 24/7 front counters across London and redeploying specialist officers to neighbourhood roles.

In addition, Comer-Schwartz pointed to recent spikes in inflation and cost pressures on all public services for the Met’s struggles with officer numbers, adding: “Inflation doesn’t stay still, neither do continual cost pressures and borrowing costs.

“We are marginally ahead of the previous mayor’s position, we have worked really hard to stabilise the workforce.

“We are doing all we can to ensure officers are in the right places.

“Headcount is really important – we know Londoners prioritise the visibility of policing, but that needs to be enabled by the right equipment, data services, infrastructure, vehicles.

“Workforce has to be a key priority, but recognise that we need to get that balance right and make sure officers have the infrastructure they need to successfully carry out their work.”

The deputy mayor also claimed that the previous Conservative mayor, Boris Johnson, made “different choices” to Khan, including selling off police stations to help balance the Met’s budget.

She confirmed the 38,000 officer goal set by the mayor and Met Police was still active, and claimed Khan should be “proud” of his record on policing.

“Given the 14 years of underfunding, the mayor should be proud of stepping up, taking tough decisions, funding the Met through the mayoral precept and the work around making sure public protection is prioritised,” she told the London Assembly budget and performance committee (BPC).

“Police officers are down, but working alongside the commissioner in reforming and resetting the Met in terms of culture and performance, there are reasons to be proud as well.”

Amana Humayun, chief finance officer for Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac), said the Met has been relying on its extensive reserves for some years to meet demands.

“That is one-off funding, it’s not replenished – we now have limited reserves and a minimum level of reserves we are required to maintain,” she told assembly members.

Adrian Wight, interim chief financial officer at the Met, said the force needs to recruit 2,000 officers a year “just to stand still” due to an average staff turnover rate of around 7%.

In a written answer to BPC chair Neil Garratt last week, the mayor said: “The figure of 38,000 officers reflects an assessment of the level of policing London would ideally have to meet demand given the scale and complexity of crime in a global city of over nine million people — particularly given the unique national and capital city functions the Met performs.

“However, the reality is that policing in London continues to operate within significant financial constraints, and I have always been clear that we must set a budget that is deliverable and sustainable.

“Whilst 38,000 officers remains a benchmark of what London ideally requires, the current position reflects the financial realities we face.

“Overall officer numbers are expected to remain broadly stable this year around 31,250. However, the Met need to balance the budget this year and, if priority measures – pursuing more funding and driving efficiency through technology – do not materialise to the extent required, then the Met may need to explore delivering savings by reducing workforce.”

However, the BPC also heard from experts who suggested that central government funding for policing was entirely “insufficient” for boosting frontline officers.

Ian Wiggett, associate director at the World Policing Advisory, said: “Money is being taken out of the general pot for policing and given back to forces on the condition it will be spent on extra neighbourhood officers – but the overall pot is shrinking.”

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