Met Police ‘reset’ means fewer officers at events and protests

The Metropolitan Police has announced a shift in their policing focus in London, which will result in certain incidents at large events and protests taking more time to resolve. This change, described as a “resetting” of priorities, involves reallocating officers from duties at major gatherings to enhancing community policing efforts.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Commissioner, explained this new approach during a London Assembly session. He highlighted that by moving officers away from managing big events and deploying them more locally, the force was able to unlock an additional 6,000 shifts in October alone. This reallocation is aimed at strengthening the presence of police within neighborhoods across the city.

The Commissioner emphasized that the decision was driven by financial constraints and sought the Assembly’s support for these adjustments. Addressing Assembly members directly, Sir Mark acknowledged the frequent feedback he receives about local neighborhood officers being appreciated but often redeployed elsewhere. He said, “London’s politicians, including yourselves, regularly say to me, ‘My local neighbourhood officers are great, but you abstract them too much.'”

While this strategy is designed to bolster community policing, Sir Mark cautioned that it comes with certain challenges. He noted that some central London events might unfold in unexpected ways and require longer response times to be managed effectively. He appealed for understanding, explaining that the “prize” for this more deliberate approach is having greater policing resources available within local communities