London Council Tax to Rise for Police Funding

- The Mayor's draft budget proposes a record £1.26 billion investment from City Hall for policing and crime prevention. This is more than double the amount allocated by the previous mayor. - For an average Band D household, the policing precept part of the council tax is expected to increase by £15 a year, which is equivalent to £1.25 a month. This is projected to raise an additional £60 million for the Metropolitan Police. - A significant portion of the new funding, £4.5 million, is earmarked for a new initiative to combat mobile phone theft. This includes establishing a specialist "Command Cell" in the West End to coordinate intelligence and response. - The additional funds will also support the use of new technology, including drones and specialized e-bikes, to pursue suspects in busy areas. - This local funding increase comes as the Metropolitan Police faces a budget gap estimated at £450 million for 2025-26, with concerns that this could lead to a significant reduction in officer numbers. - Since 2016, the proportion of the Metropolitan Police's budget funded by City Hall has increased from 19% to 26%, reflecting a greater reliance on local funding as national government contributions have not kept pace. - The budget also allocates £50 million for youth programs aimed at preventing gang involvement and crime, and an additional £29 million to address violence against women and girls. - In a move relevant to the tech sector, the budget includes a new £20 million fund to support Londoners in developing AI skills, based on recommendations from the AI and Future of Work Taskforce.