§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on policing in central London and each of its surrounding boroughs in 2003–04. [184278]
§ Ms BlearsThe Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)'s net budget requirement in 2003–04 was £2,207.8 million. Distribution of resources within the Service is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the Metropolitan Police Authority.
Resources are allocated directly to borough operational command units using the Service's resource allocation formula. In addition, borough units are able to call upon all-London Units (such as dog sections, Territorial Support Group, Traffic and Air Support Units) when operational priorities dictate.
The Commissioner informs me that the budget for the Westminster borough operational command unit in 2003–04 was £81.4 million. The cost of policing public order, specialist units, non-operational support units providing service to Westminster, the Royal Palaces, Palace of Westminster and Diplomatic Protection was additional. Total police spending in Westminster could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.
I understand from Chamberlain to the Corporation of London that the net budget for the City of London Police in 2003–04 was £67.2 million.
§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many street crimes were reported in London in(a) 1997, (b) 1999, (c) 2001, (d) 2003 and (e) 2004; and how many were prosecuted in each year. [184288]
§ Ms BlearsInformation specifically relating to street crimes is not collected centrally. The statistics that are collected on recorded crime relate to offences of business and personal robbery. Prosecution data does not distinguish between these two types of robbery and is only available for all robbery offences.