More than 160 police officers have been taken off the Tower Hamlets beat since 2010, it has emerged.
Almost half of the borough’s civilian Police Community Support Officers have been taken off the street, with 58 fewer in 2012 than 2010.
The number of full-time police officers has reduced by 13 per cent, with 103 fewer officers on the beat in the space of two years.
The findings have prompted Labour councillors to brand Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s �300m budget cut to the force “reckless” as to public safety.
“Losing 161 police officers and PCSOs will already be having a major impact in Tower Hamlets”, said Cllr Abdal Ullah, Labour’s spokesman for a safer borough.
“There is nothing more important than protecting residents. The Mayor must come clean about the impact his choices will have on residents.”
MP for Bethnal Green and Bow Rushanara Ali raised the issue in Parliament on Monday, asking home secretary Theresa May why police numbers have been cut during a period when crime is on the increase in the borough. But Ms May responded that the decision lay with the Metropolitan Police.
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