London’s new deputy mayor for policing and crime came under fire during a heated City Hall meeting over Metropolitan Police plans to close half its front desks to save money.
Kaya Comer-Schwartz was forced to admit she knew the scale of cuts in June or July, prompting one angry member to ask what the point is of her £151,465-a year role.
At a previous London Assembly committee meeting, Comer-Schwartz appeared not to know how many police stations or counters might have to be axed across the capital.
But in a list published overnight, Scotland Yard confirmed it will break its pledge to have one accessible 24 hours a day in each of 32 boroughs.
Just 20 will remain open with 18 being closed in a desperate attempt to balance a £260 million budget shortfall.
Conservative leader Susan Hall branded London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan a “coward” for refusing to attend Wednesday’s emergency meeting to urgently discuss the proposals and sending his deputy instead.
She asked Ms Comer-Schwartz: “Since the mayor is making this decision why isn’t he here?
“When was he told the front counters were closing?”
Ms Comer-Schwartz said it was probably around July when developed proposals were leaked to the media.
“We are very unhappy at the way that the information was leaked,” she added.
Hall followed up: “So basically he’s known about this for quite some time?”
Later, Lib Dem member Hina Bokhari challenged Ms Comer-Schwartz: “Did you know about them before the last police committee or did you know about them after?
“Because this is why we are having this extraordinary meeting today.
“We are worried that you knew about these cuts and closures but didn’t want to talk about them.
“We think you are trying to shy away from the scrutiny that is needed for this particular issue.”
Ms Comer-Schwartz then admitted she found out in either June or July, which prompted Ms Bokhari to respond: “So before the committee you knew this was going to happened but you didn’t say anything during that committee meeting?
“We had an opportunity to discuss this, we could have scrutinised you, questioned you, we could have actually discussed this rather than having a meeting in the middle of August. That is a real missed opportunity.
“That is really disappointing that you knew.
“I think you are evading questions... you didn’t want to talk about it until you had your press statement ready and you wanted to do it in your own time.”
Ms Comer-Schwartz denied running away from scrutiny but could not give a guarantee every borough will retain at least one police station.
Ms Bokhari claimed: “It begs the question really, what is the point of having a deputy mayor for policing and crime if you are not going to intervene on behalf of Londoners when these massive changes are being proposed.”
Ms Comer-Schwartz said both she and Sir Sadiq are “unequivocal” in their support of Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and worked with the Labour government to make the case for London.
A Met spokeswoman said: “Just five per cent of crimes were reported using front counters last year, with only one per cent of these being made during the night.
“At the busiest front counter in London on average 15 crimes are reported a day – less than one an hour - and in the least busy, only 2.5 crimes are reported a day.
“Londoners tell us they want to see more officers on our streets.
“The decision to reduce and close some front counters will save £7million and 3,752 hours of police officer time per month allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London.”
She added the Met “is focusing ruthlessly on visible policing on London’s streets, modernising services and increasing visibility in neighbourhoods with over 300 additional PCSOs and over 300 additional officers”.
