Boris Johnson has been accused of being “out of touch” after it was revealed more than 100 Tower Hamlets police and Community Support Officers have been axed in the past two years.

Labour councillors hit out at the Mayor of London after it was revealed that 66 police officers and 54 PCSOs have been lost since the summer riots of 2011.

They singled out trouble-spot Brick Lane as evidence of the need to retain police on the borough’s streets.

Labour’s community safety spokesman Cllr Mizan Chaudhury said: “With crime in the borough continuing to be a serious concern to residents, Boris Johnson’s decision to cut the number of police officers seems completely out of touch.”

Mr Johnson has defended the cuts, insisting that they would not lead to Londoners’ safety being compromised. The savings are helping fund planned council tax reductions in the capital.