COMMISSIONER of the Metropolitan Police Sir John Stevens has assured Leyton and Wanstead MP Harry Cohen that policing levels are being increased in the borough.

Mr Cohen and other Labour MPs met Sir John who explained that the Met Police was increasing police numbers by introducing high quality recruits.

The Met Police boss said the force was also working on creating a new hand-held gadget which officers could use to detect a gun or a knife on a suspect.

Speaking on cannabis legalisation, he assured the MPs that smoking of the drug remained an arrestable offence which would be enforced, especially around schools.