Police force cuts were discussed as the former Home Secretary hit the campaign trail.

Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson joined the campaign trail in Harrow West, backing Gareth Thomas' campaign to protect police.

During his time in office, the former minister oversaw an expansion of neighbourhood policing teams, with more officers proactively building links with communities, rather than just responding to emergencies.

In contrast, more than 100 uniformed police have been lost in Harrow since April 2010 with more than 4,000 posts cut across London.

Gareth Thomas said: "George Osborne's plans for extreme cuts in the next three years would mean the Metropolitan Police would lose up to 5,200 police officers in London.

“In Harrow, where we have already lost more than 100 uniformed police in the last five years, this would have a devastating impact on the quality of policing and signal the death knell for high visibility, bobby-on-the-beat community policing.

“If I am re-elected I will continue to fight for the resources that the police in Harrow need to effectively tackle anti-social behaviour and crime."