Metropolitan Police Commissioner Warns of “Eyewatering Choices” Amid Funding Shortfall

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has cautioned that the force confronts “eyewatering choices” should it fail to secure additional government funding during the forthcoming spending review. Speaking to the London Assembly, Sir Mark stated that “all services are on the table” as potential areas for budget reductions, and he could not assure that further police station closures would be avoided. A spokesperson for the Home Office indicated that the Budget had provided an increase in financial support for the Met, with the force allocated a total of up to £3.5bn in funding for the 2024-25 period. Discussions also encompassed London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s reaction to the shooting of Chris Kaba, alongside proposed reforms to police vetting procedures. Sir Mark refrained from disclosing “exact numbers” due to ongoing negotiations, but cautioned that “what I’m seeing at the moment creates some eyewatering choices for the year ahead”. He elaborated that the Met’s property portfolio, which encompasses police stations, is “not in the condition it should be,” projecting that half of it could become unusable within five to 10 years. He stated that the existing budget would only permit building refurbishments once every 130 years, asserting that an additional £50m annually was required “to do the basics” and maintain the operational status of buildings. He further remarked, “If some of the decisions I fear we are having to make over the next few months come to bear, then there will be a lot of raised eyebrows and a lot of concern.” The Home Office spokesperson clarified that the £3.5bn funding for 2024-25 supplements an additional £37.4m designated for the 2024-25 pay award, which was allocated separately from the main police funding settlement. The meeting featured intense discussions between certain Conservative Assembly members and Mr. Khan regarding his prior comments concerning the police shooting of Chris Kaba. Mr. Kaba sustained a fatal head wound while attempting to force his way out of a police vehicle stop in south London. Although police officers were unaware of the identity of the Audi’s driver, the vehicle Mr. Kaba occupied was known to have been utilized as a getaway car in a separate shooting incident in Brixton, south London, the preceding day. Last month, firearms officer Martyn Blake was acquitted of Mr. Kaba’s murder. Following the trial, the judge removed reporting restrictions on details not presented to the jury, disclosing that Mr. Kaba was affiliated with a gang known as the 67. He had a history of criminal convictions, including for possession of an imitation firearm and possession of a knife. Additionally, CCTV footage showed him shooting and injuring a rival gang member in a crowded east London nightclub six days prior to the police intervention. Conservative Assembly member Susan Hall criticized the mayor for being “one sided” in his reaction days after the shooting, citing his comment that it was “a young life cut short”. She stated, “These armed officers go into situations that none of us would want to be near, and yet there’s no sympathy for him [Mr Blake] whatsoever.” She repeatedly inquired whether Mr. Khan would apologize to him, noting that some officers were withdrawing from firearms responsibilities. She asserted, “They are lacking in the support they need and it comes from the top.” She concluded, “You should be more supportive, or just keep quiet.” The mayor affirmed his respect for the jury’s verdict and extended gratitude to all police officers, “particularly our firearms officers who do an incredibly difficult job under extraordinary circumstances, under a unique set of pressures”. He added that “they’d be the first to accept that it’s really important in a democracy we have a proper system of checks and balances in relation to how police are held to account”. Mr. Khan stated his full support for the review into firearms accountability, which was announced by the home secretary. Conservative Assembly member Lord Bailey informed the mayor that his comments subsequent to the shooting could be interpreted as “validating some of the worst behaviour possible, and that… you are garnering sympathy for these people”. He conveyed to the assembly, “The black community in London is terrorised by the likes of the 67 gang.” Lord Bailey asserted that police officers were hesitant to confront such groups due to a perceived lack of support from the mayor. Mr. Khan countered that officers’ expressed concerns primarily pertained to public order policing rather than firearms incidents, and that he had not been identified by officers as a source of concern on this matter. The commissioner also offered his perspective on the matter, stating that sympathy existed for Mr. Kaba’s family irrespective of the circumstances, and that empathy should also be extended to police officers and the difficulties they encounter. Nevertheless, he noted that Mr. Blake “will be the first to say he expected full accountability” for his actions on the day of Mr. Kaba’s death. He further stated, “Having regular coffees with Martyn Blake over recent months, I’ve been astounded by his personal resilience and dignity with what the world has thrown at him and his family, which has turned his life upside down.” He clarified that the 67 gang was considered among the “most dangerous” in London and alleged that its members were responsible for shootings “into double figures” across the capital. Sir Mark highlighted that young black men in London faced a 13 times higher likelihood of being murdered compared to young white men, emphasizing the need for a “balanced debate” on addressing how “crime falls on communities”. The commissioner also conveyed his “disappointment” that police vetting reforms, which he had requested from the government two years prior, had not yet been implemented. He informed the Assembly that it was “crazy” that officers who failed their re-vetting were not automatically mandated to depart the force. He explained that the Met had adopted its own method for managing such instances, but this approach was “legally untested” and was currently the subject of a judicial review initiated by the Met Police Federation. He added, “I am deeply concerned that if we lose that review, that will be tens of officers that no-one would say are fit to wear a uniform having the right to come back.” The Met Police Federation stated that its members must be treated in accordance with the law. Its general secretary, Matt Cane, commented: “In order to protect our members’ interests, and ensure the legality of vetting removal, the Metropolitan Police Federation has launched a judicial review of this process. “The outcome of this court case will determine how vetting-based dismissal is used – and will undoubtedly influence any future vetting revocation regulations.”