Heightened security leaves Met strapped
The Metropolitan police service is in urgent talks with the government to try to secure additional funding in the wake of the July 7th bombings.
The force is currently spending £500,000 every day on top of normal costs to pay for the extra officers required for a higher state of alert in the capital.
Last Thursday’s operation, which saw 6,000 officers patrolling the underground and rail network, cost in the region of £2 million.
Metropolitan police authority (MPA) chairman Len Duvall said the Met was facing “one of its biggest challenges ever”, but he was confident of the government’s support.
“We are in urgent discussions with government about the funding of current levels of counter-terrorist activity in London – maintaining policing levels to fight terror attacks is costing approximately £500,000 a day above normal policing costs,” he said today.
“We will continue discussions with government and take stock at the appropriate time, probably in late September.
“This is a complex situation which has implications for other police services outside London and I am very confident that the government will recognise this.”
There are fears that the increased policing activity could result in higher council taxes for Londoners. The Met is funded by grants from the government and the Greater London Authority, with the latter money being invested in the future of the services.
“Over the past four years we have seen an increase in investment both from government and the mayor. We want to see that investment continue and not used to plug financial gaps brought about by the atrocities of July 7th,” Mr Duvall added.
A Home Office spokesman said all police authorities had to cover the initial cost of extraordinary activities, but were able to apply to the Home Office for a special grant towards this.
The MPA is currently preparing detailed figures to present to the department for its analysis, although it is unlikely to recover all the extra money spent as all authorities are “expected to hold reserves for exceptional events”.
