'Pace and severity' of police cuts condemned (From Harrow Times)

Harrow Borough Council claims police cuts will put safety and security of residents at risk

9:30am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Jaber Mohamed

Harrow Borough Council passed a motion on Thursday condemning the pace and severity of police cuts.

The council believes the changes will put the safety and security of residents at risk.

Labour councillor Sue Anderson said the unprecedented cuts are going too far and too fast and are likely to endanger families and communities across the borough.

The motion was passed during a full meeting of the council and Cllr Phillip O’Dell, environment and community safety portfolio holder, said: “These plans will result in the loss of seventeen officers in Harrow compared with 2010 levels.

“It will also mean the scrapping of the successful ward based Safer Neighbourhood Teams along with the closure of Pinner and Wealdstone Police Stations.”

The authority now intends to challenge the Mayor of London, who is proposing the cuts, on whether the position that the scale of the cuts are necessary and acceptable.

It also calls upon all three MPs representing Harrow to oppose these plans.

Residents in Harrow will be almost 51 minutes away from a police front counter during the night.