Nick Ferrari CATCHES OUT Sadiq Khan deputy in heated VIOLENT crime clash
NICK Ferrari blasted Deputy Mayor of London Sophie Linden after she claimed there was no money to spend on additional police officers, despite rocketing violent crime in the capital.
Deputy Mayor GRILLED over Met Police reserve budget spending
The Deputy Mayor of London Sophie Linden told the LBC radio presenter that government spending cuts meant police officer numbers were low - but Mr Ferrari demanded to know why they weren’t spending their big reserve budget to boost numbers.
The Metropolitan Police reserves two percent of their budget for emergencies - which amounts to a whopping £240million.
But Ms Linden seemed unaware of the exact amount potentially available to boost police numbers - but Mr Ferrari was on hand to remind her of the figures.
Mr Ferrari asked: “Deputy Mayor, you are aware of the level of budget in reserve in Scotland Yard aren’t you?”
But Ms Linden admitted that although she knew the emergency reserve was 2% of the total Metropolitan Police budget, she didn’t know what the budget was “in cash terms”.
Mr Ferrari said: “You don’t? Don’t worry, I have.
“I’ve got the figure. I’d have thought the Deputy Mayor, in something as grave as this, with people being stabbed on London streets, might have a working knowledge, but hey, that’s for me!”
Mr Ferrari revealed the figure was a huge £240 million.
LBC’s Nick Ferrari makes dig at Sadiq Khan over London violence
Ms Linden replied: “The money that's in reserve is allocated for being spent on the technology that the police need to be out there on the streets."
Mr Ferrari asked: "Why don't we spend it on officers to stop young people being stabbed, rather than technology?
"Wouldn't that make sense?"
Ms Linden insisted: "The Mayor has invested £50million to create a Violent Crime Taskforce. We have 270 officers out there every day, making arrests, doing stop and search and taking weapons off the streets.”
Mr Ferrari challenged: "Excuse me, I'm confused. So the Mayor was suddenly able to find £50million? I thought we were in dire financial straits."
Ms Linden replied: "The Mayor made a very difficult decision to move business rates, to spending in the Metropolitan Police, that money has been invested.”