- Mayor outlines cuts to "back office" - Frontline policing in London unaffected
By John Kaponi
Mayor Boris Johnson is claiming that the Governments Comprehensive Spending Review will not see any cuts to frontline policing, but will see cuts in the "back office" defined as buildings, cars and administration, bearing the brunt of the overall cuts to policing cuts of 20 per cent nationally.
Emphasising that frontline policing will not suffer any cutbacks Mayor Johnson said at a press conference at City Hall today:
"We will be making cuts to back office expenditure in buildings; cars and administration, there will be no cuts to frontline policing".
Fears that there will be widespread cuts to the Metropolitan Police have yet to be ruled out, with the Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse quick to say the cuts are still not clearly defined and said "the picture is still not clear on policing in London".
Transport for London will continue with fares increases of 6.8 per cent per year starting from 2011, and 50,000 affordable homes will be built according to the Mayor.
The Mayor also highlighted his own concerns that the "engine of the UK economy" that is London which contributes to 21 per cent of the UK's GDP is not penalised by unfair cuts, and Cross-Rail has been protected from any cuts.
Typhoon Megi leaves 11 dead in TaiwanThe death toll from Typhoon Megi rose to 11 on Saturday as it cut a deadly path into Asia, triggering mudslides and leaving tourists stranded in Taiwan.
