London鈥檚 police force is to slash planned capital spending by almost 拢400m over the next seven years as a result of market pressures
The news comes six months after the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) became one of the first public bodies to signal that public spending would not be immune to the recession when it placed its 拢1.4bn seven-year building programme under review. The revised programme now stands at 拢1.04bn.
The figures have emerged after being released unnoticed in a March finance report for the MPA.
Over the next three years, the fall will equate to about 拢100m. For 2009/10, the figure has been cut by 拢26m from 拢205m to 拢179m. In 2010/11, spending levels will shrink by 拢39m from 拢168m to 拢129m and in 2011/12, they will fall 拢35m from 拢155m to 拢120m.
The MPA said: 鈥淲e are looking at further borrowing to allow schemes to be brought forward, but we anticipate reductions in programmes across many councils in London and across the country, with reduced receipts from disposals.鈥�
Many projects and programmes have been delayed or delivered over more years than anticipated
MPA statement
A contributing factor in the reduction is the force鈥檚 loss in last year鈥檚 collapse of the Icelandic banking system, understood to have been 拢30m.
In the document, the authority had said: 鈥淚n reviewing the programme, many projects and programmes have been delayed or delivered over more years than originally anticipated.鈥�
Two months ago, the Met cancelled a 拢30m strategic command facility in Hendon, north-west London that was to be part of a security control centre for the 2012 Olympics. The Met said that it would instead upgrade existing facilities.
Postscript
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