Following the recent rise in violent crime in Tower Hamlets and across London, Bethnal Green and Bow MP, Rushanara Ali, has called on the Prime Minister to give the Met Police more funding and prevent any further budget cuts. 

Rushanara Ali MP said, “The recent rise in knife crime in Tower Hamlets, which has resulted in a number of fatalities, is deeply concerning and has shocked the local community.  My thoughts are with the victims and their families.

Urgent action is now needed to ensure the right measures are in place to stop these crimes from happening and to bring the perpetrators to justice. 

I welcome action taken by the Met police who have committed more resources in Tower Hamlets and increased patrols in hot spot areas. I also welcome the additional funding from the Mayor of London to policing and youth services.

Much more needs to be done to safeguard our communities and particularly young people from violent crime and to prevent young people carrying knives in the first place.  Our police force needs the necessary resources to carry out preventative work in our communities and to catch those who commit these appalling crimes. 

Nationally, Government cuts have resulted in the loss of over 21,000 officers and in London this has led to the loss of a third of police staff posts, as well as two-thirds of police community support officer posts.  Since 2010-11, the Met’s general grant funding from the Government has fallen by more than £700 million and London faces a further £400 million of police service cuts. 

I urge the Prime Minister to properly fund our police so that they can carry out this vital work.”