THE Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) has distanced itself from its own statement which claimed Waltham Forest borough commander Chief Supt Mark Benbow has not asked for more police officers.
The MPA, which approves staffing levels, said in response to council leader Chris Robbins' plea for more officers for Waltham Forest, said: “There has been no request for additional police officers either from the Borough commander or territorial policing.”
Following a complaint from Chief Supt Benbow that he HAS consistently asked for more officers, an MPA spokesman is now saying that the information in the statement was supplied by the Met itself.
A Met spokeswoman said Chief Supt Benbow's comments were "reflective of his own personal view" and declined to comment further.
The Guardian last backed Cllr Robbins' call for an extra 120 police officers for Waltham Forest.
The borough currently has fewer officers than nearby boroughs Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets, despite similar population levels and crime profiles.
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