"MAYOR IS SOFT ON OVERGROUND RAIL CRIME" - TOPE

5.37.50pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st Jun 2006

London Mayor Ken Livingstone was today forced to admit that he has failed to deliver the number of police officers on London's overground rail network promised in February 2006.

Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly today revealed figures showing that one third of the 89 officers promised by the Mayor to fight crime on overground rail have instead been deployed on London Underground.

Liberal democrat Policing Spokesman in the London Assembly, Graham Tope, said:

"Yet again, the Mayor promises one thing to Londoners and delivers another. At the start of the year, Ken Livingstone pledged to deploy a further 89 police officers on the overland rail network. Six months later we discover not only that has backtracked on his original commitment, but this morning he also concedes that further cuts might have to be made in next year;s budget

'With high levels of crime on the rail network and high profile murders such as that of Tom ap Rhys Pryce in Kensal Green at the start of the year, it is imperative the public feel safe by a visible police presence on London's rail network.'

'Earlier this year The Liberal Democrats gave the Mayor a plan that would have put an additional 272 police officers on our rail networks. The Mayor didn't listen to us then, and he isn't listening to Londoners now as he can't even deliver the officers he promised." ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. In February 2006, Ken Livingstone promised to fund an additional 89 British Transport Officers on London's overground rail network

2. This commitment was backed up on 17 May 2006 when the Mayor said: "I have recently announced an additional £3.6M in funding for British Transport Police officers working on crime and disorder issue on the overground rail network."