Earlier in the year, I invited residents to take part in a survey on crime and policing. In response, I wrote to the Mayor of London to raise the concerns of residents who mainly felt that the impact of crime in the suburbs is not understood, and is largely overlooked, by City Hall.
Rather disappointingly, but unsurprisingly, I received a response, not from the Mayor himself, but from his deputy, Sophie Linden. While the letter outlines the funding that City Hall has put into policing and protecting communities across London, there is no particular focus on Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, nor on the suburbs in general. This just seems to ratify the concern residents wanted raised in the first place.
Of course, the Government's pledge to put an extra 1,300 extra neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs on the streets is welcome. However, it is imperative that areas of outer London see the benefit. Currently the plans are light on detail, but I will be following this issue closely and holding both City Hall and the Government to account where necessary.
