Met faces cash crisis over crime targets

The Metropolitan police is facing a £70m budget shortfall, The Independent on Sunday can reveal, at a time when it is under increasing pressure from the Government to combat street crime.

The Prime Minister put street crime at the top of the agenda when he promised before the summer to curb muggings and mobile phone thefts by the end of this month. But, though final figures are not yet available, early indications show police forces across the country are struggling to meet the pledge.

The Met is one of 10 forces currently taking part in a government pilot scheme to reduce street crime figures by the end of September.

Last week, the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, said figures to be released this month would show the Government had met its targets. However, South Yorkshire police has said it is likely to miss its target, partly because its funding was delayed.

Cutbacks are now expected among the Met's large civilian staff to save at least £30m. Extra funding could come from a rise in council taxes in London.

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), which oversees policing, said it was still hoping for extra funds from the Government's comprehensive spending review.

Peter Martin, the MPA's treasurer, said: "There are clear implications that reducing support to front-line police officers may have an impact."

More than 600 police officers have resigned from the Met since April. Many officers are fed up with having to stretch resources in the face of rising crime.

Earlier this year, the Home Secretary unveiled his blueprint for cutting crime by overhauling the courts and speeding up justice for victims.

However, Mr Blunkett's White Paper isexpected to be savaged this week by the leading barrister Michael Mansfield QC at a special debate organised by the Royal Society of Arts on the justice system under New Labour.

Mr Mansfield said reforms such as scrapping the rule that prevents defendants from being tried twice for the same offence – the so-called double jeopardy rule – would do nothing to assist in fighting crime.

The barrister will also call on the Government to let victims decide on the charges police bring against defendants. This already happens in France where victims of crime are involved in the prosecution process from start to finish.