• OVER the last year, gun crime in London has increased by 42 per cent. This, and the spate of stabbings across Camden, serve as a reminder of the critical need for investment in our police.

From knife crime to robbers on mopeds, it feels like the situation is totally out of control. The fault lies with policymakers, not the police, who are doing the best they can with the resources available to them.

Since 2010, when the Tories entered government, the Met has faced cuts of nearly £1bn. Fewer community police officers and fewer stations make it harder to fight crime. Intelligence gathering suffers, whilst the deterrent effect of visible policing is reduced.

Security and policing is a priority for me in deciding for whom I will vote next week. Given that the number of police officers in England and Wales has fallen by nearly 20,000 since 2009, I am afraid that vote cannot go with the current government.

J ANDERSON, NW2