London's Tory mayor to cut 455 police jobs – after winning election on crime ticket

Vikram Dodd
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 3 February 2010 20.33 GMT

Boris Johnson's Conservative administration in London is to cut the number of police officers in the capital, despite him campaigning for election on making crime-fighting his top priority.

Plans in the mayor's budget reveal a cut of 455 officers by the time London hosts the Olympics in 2012.

Critics say it is the first substantial cut in police numbers in the capital since power over policing was devolved in 2000.

Johnson announced last week he would stand down as chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, the body that oversees Scotland Yard.

The mayor's budget lays out the proposed cuts and says: "Over the three years to 2012-13, the number of police officers is forecast to decrease by 455."

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