Tuesday 19 September 2023

London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive, Richard Burge, in a statement in response to the news that around 1,000 Metropolitan Police officers are not on active duty, said:

“Business crime is one of the top concerns for the capital’s firms. Whether it is shoplifting to mobile phone theft or cyber attacks to looting, there is a need to crack down on business crime. That is why news that around 1000 Metropolitan Police officers are not on active duty is concerning in this fight against crime.

At the same time, many women and men across our city have been equally concerned at the state of the Metropolitan Police following last year’s convictions. One of the areas of work of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry is now the safety of women across London.

So Sir Mark Rowley is right to root out officers who are not up to the job or are corrupt. We fully back the leadership of the Commissioner. The safety of women and men in London is paramount.

At the same time, we urge Sir Mark, Home Secretary Suella Braverman and London Mayor, Sadiq Khan to work together on a joint plan on how this 1,000 shortfall in police officers will be tackled in the short term to ensure the continued safety of all Londoners and visitors to our city”.

ENDS

NOTES:

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