Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, warned that the force could face significant staff cuts to balance its budget. Due to a £450 million funding shortfall, the Met may be forced to reduce its workforce by 2,300 officers and 400 civilian staff, equating to 7% of officers and 3.5% of staff.

These cuts, projected for next year, would severely impact the force’s ability to tackle serious crime, including organised crime and violence. The Met currently employs 33,473 officers and 11,178 staff. Rowley stated that the financial strain, caused by long-term funding issues, would affect key units like the Flying Squad, mounted branch, and dog units.

The Met has already sold off significant assets, and using reserves is no longer an option. Rowley emphasized that the funding shortfall stems from years of underfunding, not just this year’s budget. While redundancies are not guaranteed, they may occur if the cuts are unavoidable. Staffing shortages are already affecting some areas, particularly Croydon, where a quarter of officers are often reassigned to duties outside the borough. Official figures show the Met solves only 1 in 5 burglaries in Croydon despite current staffing levels.