Statement from APCC Chair following the policing roundtable at 10 Downing Street
Following yesterday's (28 February) policing roundtable at 10 Downing Street, Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Donna Jones, said:
“We’ve seen a worrying increase over the last four months in the number of hate crimes being reported across the country - a more than 147% increase in crimes, with a large number of them being committed against Jewish communities.
“This has to stop. London is facing unprecedented levels of pressure coming from one of the largest scale protests the country has seen. Whilst the right to protest underpins every civilised community, so does the right of people to go about their lives peacefully.
“More than £25 million has been spent on the protests since the 7 October attacks. Police officers are having annual leave and rest days cancelled. Other police forces have had to draft officers in to assist the Metropolitan Police.
“This is money that should be spent on preventing crimes, stopping knife attacks, drug gangs and violent crimes across the capital. The effects of these highly disruptive protests is losing the good will of the people of the country, and putting lives at risk.”
Notes for editors
Donna Jones is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight