I WAS disturbed to read the article on the Guardian’s website ‘Met Police figures show a rise in crime across Waltham Forest since last year’.

According to your recent reports the Met’s own figures also show our borough is short by 120 police officers.

And what a surprise – Newham, which has its fair share of police, has seen a fall in its crime rate. More police officers might go someway to help prevent the shocking incident near the Tube station last week where a man was robbed and glassed in the face at midday.

With a lack of police presence, criminals feel confident they will not be seen or stopped. The facts are there for everyone to see. The Met should give us more police before another tragic incident occurs.

Debbi Johnson, Shernall Street,