MP Backs Move to Single Police Patrols

4.16.46pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 9th Jul 2009

The Metropolitan Police aims to increase police patrols by an extra 10 a day in the borough by splitting up traditional two-man patrols. This follows an initiative by the Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, to make the police more visible on the streets.

Vincent Cable, MP, who was, until recently, Chair of the All Party Police Group welcomed the move as "sensible and practical": "people often say to me that the police are less visible than in the past even though there are now more police officers. This simple change will free up 64,000 patrols across London".

"The police confirm that police will still patrol in pairs when there is danger. They also say that officers will be told to get out on the streets from police stations as a way on increasing police presence".