The Mayor of London will raise his share of council tax by 50p a week to help fund policing.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan first proposed the council tax rise in December 2018, but today it was officially confirmed in his budget.

Mr Khan said: “Keeping Londoners safe is my number-one priority and I am determined to do everything in my power to support the Met Police and tackle the complex causes of crime.

“Despite warm words from Ministers, they have repeatedly refused to reverse the huge cuts imposed on the Met and have instead shifted the burden of police funding on to the council tax payer, which we know hits the poorest hardest.”

The 50p rise means Mr Khan’s share of council tax – which will go to City Hall – will increase overall by 9 per cent or £26.28 a year in cash terms for an average Band D council tax payer.

The Mayor’s proposed council tax precept comprises £725m to support the Metropolitan Police service, £159m for the London Fire Brigade and £77m for other services such as transport and the Greater London Authority (GLA) itself.

This is the maximum amount mayors are allowed to increase council tax by without having a referendum on the decision.

Mr Khan as also announced plans to invest an additional £234 million in policing and tackling violent crime in London – with £119 million of this from business rates to support policing numbers.

He added: “The Government has clearly abdicated its responsibility to keep Londoners safe, leaving me to take the difficult decision to raise council tax and divert business rates for a second year in a row to invest in the police and our long-term public health approach.”

The Metropolitan Police funding has been cut by over £850 million since 2010.

Figures released in 2018 by City Hall revealed the number of police officers in London had fallen to 3.3 per 1,000 people, with the number of police dropping below 30,000 for the first time in a decade.

The Mayor’s final Budget is due to go before a meeting of the London Assembly on February 25 who will approve or reject Mr Khan’s final GLA budget.

The GLA budget covers:

The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and the Metropolitan Police Transport for London

The London Fire Commissioner and London Fire Brigade

The London Legacy Development Company – i.e. the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation

The London Assembly