Met cuts 'could add to paperwork'

Several police stations could be closed and jobs cut, it is claimed

Cost-cutting by the Metropolitan Police (Met) could leave officers facing more paperwork, a London Assembly member has claimed.

Senior Met officers have been told by London Mayor Boris Johnson to cut costs by more than £92m this year.

Their plans have focused on streamlining support and management staff to protect frontline jobs.

But London Assembly member John Biggs warned this may leave uniformed officers picking up the paperwork.

'Protect numbers'

Speaking at meeting in central London's City Hall, Labour member Mr Biggs said cost-cutting could lead to "reverse civilianisation".

"Our understanding is efficiency savings are being sought disproportionately among support staff and up until now the decision has been made that we should protect police uniform numbers in London," he said.

"So officers will spend two extra hours a week in the canteen filling in forms because there are not enough support staff," he said.

The Met's finance director, Paul James, said Mr Biggs was "right in saying the focus is trying to make sure we are as lean as possible in support and management costs rather than reducing politically sensitive frontline police numbers".

But he added: "I am not sure at the moment we would accept there is any impact with the work we are doing on savings in forcing police officers to spend more time filling in forms."