Met Police to scrap antisocial behaviour officers

The Met said it would continue to "crackdown" on antisocial behaviour

The Metropolitan Police will redeploy officers dedicated to tackling antisocial behaviour (ASB) to neighbourhood policing teams, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has learned.

The officers work with local authorities across London and have specialist knowledge and experience with serial drug users and consistently problematic people.

They also take part in multi-agency risk assessment conferences to help implement safety plans based on shared local information.

The Met said it was committed to "continuing its crackdown on antisocial behaviour in local communities" and was investing in neighbourhood policing.

Earlier this week, members of the London Assembly were informed that the ASB officer role will be axed and their responsibilities would be handled by ward officers instead.

Sources within City Hall have indicated concerns that persistent ASB will now be less effectively resourced.

Liberal Democrat assembly member Gareth Thomas told the LDRS the cuts were "a phenomenally short-sighted cost-saving move" which will "undoubtedly cost more money in the long run".

He added that unless the mayor steps in, then axing these officers will send a clear signal that tackling antisocial behaviour in our communities isn't a priority for the mayor."

It is understood the move, rather than to save money, is part of a wider plan to boost visible policing in neighbourhoods.

Earlier this year the Met announced plans to shut almost half of the capital's police station front counters in a bid to save £7m amid a £260m budget shortfall.

The move would also free up officers currently stationed behind desks that the force said were used less and less each year.

City Hall says Sir Sadiq Khan backs plans for more "boost high visibility policing"

A Met Police spokesperson said the move was "driven by the Home Office's neighbourhood policing guarantee".

They added: "Current antisocial behaviour officers will join our dedicated neighbourhood policing teams... that will receive enhanced training to tackle antisocial behaviour, be more visible and proactively fight the crimes that matter most to local communities."

A spokesperson for Sir Sadiq Khan said: "Nothing is more important to the mayor than keeping Londoners safe" and that the mayor "supports efforts to boost high visibility policing".