Lib Dems criticise police teams

The Met says it has no difficulty filling PCSO posts

London Liberal Democrats say they have serious concerns over the capital's Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs).

A study by the party claims there are many vacancies on the teams and it criticised some SNTs for holding surgeries in the offices of MPs.

The Metropolitan (Met) Police brought in SNTs, comprising a sergeant, two Pcs and three police community support officers (PCSOs) in every ward in 2004.

The Met said its 632 SNTs were over-strength in terms of PCs and PCSOs.

SNTs were set up to provide communities with a dedicated team of officers who are known to local people and to address concerns of each specific neighbourhood.

The London Assembly Liberal Democrats said their study showed there are a large number of vacant posts for sergeants and PCSOs.

SNTs are a brilliant idea but all the evidence shows that they are not being given the full support at the highest levels of the Met Dee Doocey

It said 28 teams had vacancies for a sergeant and six SNTs had no constables at all. In 45 there were also vacancies for PCSOs.

The report said four SNTs had compromised the politically independent nature of the police by holding surgeries in the offices of MPs or in political clubs.

And it claimed some SNTs were also failing to reach out to the whole communities they serve by holding surgeries exclusively in premises that cater for just one religious section of the community.

Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly policing spokesperson, said: "SNTs are a brilliant idea, but all the evidence shows that they are not being given the full support at the highest levels of the Met.

"The high number of vacancies for PCSOs, police constables and especially sergeants is a very serious concern.

"Most significantly the Met needs to address the fact that SNTs should be accessible and open to every section of the community."

'Temporary promotion'

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We do not accept that we are having difficulty filling posts within our SNTs.

"At present we are over-strength by 86 police constables and 246 police community support officers.

"We are 37 sergeants under-strength. However, these posts are currently being filled by police constables on temporary promotion."

He added: "SNT surgeries and meetings are often held in other organisations' buildings and this will include places of worship such as churches, synagogues and mosques.

"The Metropolitan Police Service does not support the holding of public meetings or local police surgeries in politically aligned premises and where we are aware of this happening we will stop it and find alternative premises. "