Pic: Lil Toad

London’s biggest borough claims to have found the solution to Mayor Boris Johnson’s budget cuts: it will increase the number of ‘bobbies on the beat’.

A spokesperson for Croydon Police insisted that there would be an increase of 117 officers patrolling the area.

He said: “Croydon is the largest borough in London and in terms of population, it has quite a high level of criminality, so its necessary for the area to install more police officers.”

Croydon’s plans come in the context of the Mayor’s proposed budget cuts which are currently under consultation.

The consultation is looking to save £500million by reducing the number of supervising officers. The number of sergeants and higher ranks will fall from 7,160 to 6,022.

Plans to cut funding of police stations and reduce  pay for entry-level police officers have also been announced.

There are fears that a number of police stations will have to close.  Various sources suggest that those in the areas of South Norwood, Addington and Norbury are under threat.

However a spokesperson for Central Croydon police station said: “It was a proposal to close six stations in Croydon and to leave the central one, but it’s still under consultation. South Norwood was approved to be closed down but at the moment all of them are available and there is to be a public meeting in February, where the situation will be discussed.”

Croydon’s public consultation is being held on February 12 at Croydon Conference Centre on Surrey Street. The main speakers will be Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Stephen Greenhalgh and Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Simon Byrne.

The 2013-17 Police and Crime Plan will set the police and crime priorities for the remainder of the Mayor’s term. This plan is currently being developed and will be subject to wide-ranging consultation. The final plan will be published by 31 March 2013.