A rethink is being urged on the Metropolitan Police's plans for officers to patrol beats on their own after a lone officer was severely beaten.

The incident in Queen's Park, West London happened in December but the details have only just been confirmed by Scotland Yard.

A probation constable was beaten unconscious as a group of youths in broad daylight - this was in spite of being less than half a mile away from TWO police stations.

Officers are up in arms at plans by Met commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson's to make constables walk alone rather than in pairs to increase police presence on streets. Cops see the move as unpractical, dangerous and as a cynical ploy to save money.

Nearly 1,500 people have joined a Facebook group calling for this to be banned. One comment read:

“If there are two police together they can back each other up, call support, provide witness statements etc that can't necessarily be done by a lone individual when faced with several individuals.”

Peter Smyth, chairman of the Met Police Federation, which represents officers, said:

"We accept that single patrolling can be the best option but there are places where it is not appropriate for safety reasons. I would question whether single patrolling is suitable for the Mozart estate."

Commander Simon Bray, who heads up policing in Westminster, said they had changed patrols at the Mozart estate.

Proximity patrolling, where two officers patrol close to each other, is now being used round the clock instead of just day time.

He also said that single patrolling has enabled an extra 20 or so patrols a day in Westminster.

The injured officer, in his twenties, was taken to hospital but is now back on recuperative duties, four people have been arrested.

Budget crisis - £545million wanted in savings

This week a recruitment freeze was announced, leaving 2,000 successful applicant in limbo as the government wants the 43 police forces in England and Wales to find total savings of £545m by 2014.

A meeting of the police workforce strategy board is looking at proposals to save £400m by ensuring all forces in England and Wales have an equal mix of officers and civilian staff - other controversial proposals include the prospect of 28,000 fewer officers in England and Wales as civilian staff take over front-line roles.