Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, has revealed that the Mayor of London’s pledge to restore community policing is being broken in numerous wards across the London boroughs.
Back in December 2017 Sadiq Khan boasted that he has successfully delivered on his promise to deliver at least two dedicated Police Constables and one dedicate Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in every ward in London.
Caroline met campaigners at City Hall to receive a petition to the London Assembly against the Mayor’s plans for a new tunnel between Silvertown and Greenwich. "The case for a new road tunnel just does not stack up when we are trying to clean up London’s air" said Caroline.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the decision confirmed by the Mayor to totally scrap the RV1 bus service from 15th June 2019, said:
“In the same week as the start of the Ultra Low Emission Zone the Mayor has made the decision to cut one of the few zero-emission bus routes in London, serving an area with some of the worst air pollution in the capital. The total lack of joined up thinking is staggering.
Concerns about changes to the way London Boroughs help fund extra police officers have recently been raised by at City Hall by Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat Assembly Member.
During the London Assembly session to consider the Mayor's final draft Budget, Caroline pressed him on Crossrail and PCSO numbers.
After a Freedom of Information Request revealed that Crossrail and TfL were drafting press releases about the delay to Crossrail 12 days before the Mayor announced it last August, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“The Mayor’s repeated claims that he only knew about the delayed opening date of the central section of Crossrail just two days before the public announcement are now even harder to believe.
Watch Caroline on ITV discussing the waste of public money by the Garden Bridge project.
As TfL published the costs incurred by the Garden Bridge project, Caroline also said:
“The Mayor and TfL should not be boasting about being transparent in publishing this information.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat Londonwide Assembly Member, challenged the Mayor and the Commissioner of Transport for London (TfL) to ensure that the Board of TfL are far more effective in scrutinising the work of the transport organisation.
In the London Assembly's session to consider the Mayor's draft consolidated budget, Caroline sought assurances that any extra money found ahead of the final budget (through surplus business rates revenue) is allocated to policing and tackling crime.
At January 2019's Mayor's Question Time, Caroline raised her concerns with over the number of deployable Police Community Support Officers in London. With vacancies and officers on long-term sick leave, places like Streatham can end up with one PCSO left to cover four wards. This is not sustainable.
