The loss of 361 Met Police officers in just 12 months who respond to emergencies has been condemned tonight by East London MP Jim Fitzpatrick.

The posts have disappeared from the Met’s front-line Response, Neighbourhood, Community Safety, Traffic, Dog and Mounted units which are called out on 999 calls, according to analysis by the Commons Library of Data taken from police forces all over the country.

“The blame for these cuts lies squarely with the Government,” said the Poplar & Limehouse MP.

“Our police commissioner has been put in an impossible position by the decision to cut police funding by 20 per cent.

“We recognise savings need to be made. But this isn’t an attack on waste—it’s an attack on the police.”

The cuts in Met Police numbers contribute to the loss of 5,200 emergency response officers in England and Wales in the 12 months up to last March.