Operation Trident may be scrapped in spending cuts

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has revealed that it has no immediate plans to close the command that tackles gun crime in London’s African-Caribbean communities, although no department was “sacrosanct” as it awaits its final budget.

Reports emerged this week suggesting the Trident command of the MPS could be disbanded and merge with other squads to cut costs, but a spokesperson for the force denied that a decision had been made.

Trident is responsible for the prevention and investigation of shootings in London, as well as all gun related murders within London’s black communities and has played a central role in tackling the issue since its inception, but concerns have been raised over its future as police forces look for ways to save money.

Although the MPS has said that there are “no plans to disband the Trident command”, it will not know exactly what impact the cuts will have on specific departments until a budget has been finalised – which is not due until early next year.

A spokesperson for the MPS said: “We don’t yet know the full impact the budget cuts will have on the MPS and we are unlikely to know our final budget for several months due to the complexity of our funding structures.

“We are going through the figures very carefully with the police authority to assess their full impact. As part of this process, all commands within the MPS will be scrutinised to ensure that they deliver their services as effectively and as efficiently as possible.

“It has been made clear to all within the MPS that no organisational structures are sacrosanct. It remains committed to working with London communities to prevent and investigate shootings and is reviewing all options on how it can deliver a better service to Londoners at a time of reducing budgets. However, at this stage, no decisions have been made on any future structuring of Trident.”

Any decision to disband Trident would be a cause for concern, according to Labour’s Shadow Policing Minister.

Vernon Coaker said: “The Metropolitan Police is being put in an impossible position by the coalition government.

“As I know from my own time as Policing Minister, Operation Trident does a vital job tackling gun crime in the capital. I’d be very concerned if it was disbanded or its important work was undermined.

“The Home Secretary is imposing 20 per cent cuts, with the biggest cuts in the first two years. This is precisely the sort of specialist work which will suffer with cuts on this scale. By cutting so deeply and so quickly, the Government is taking big risks with the safety of our communities.”

However, the MPS said that it is facing “very challenging times”, but despite the reduction in its budget, it is committed to maintaining and building on successes such as Trident.

“We remain committed to continuing to deliver a better policing service for less by streamlining our business support and making best use of our operational assets.

“The Trident Independent Advisory Group has been, and will continue to be, consulted on how Trident can prevent shootings and bring those responsible to justice. We will work with them and the communities we serve as we consider any possible changes,” added the spokesperson.