A 16% increase in the number of reported rapes in London has added to the pressure on Boris Johnson to deliver his promise of £744,000 a year for rape crisis centres in the capital. Under questioning by Jenny Jones at the London Assembly budget committee, the Mayor admitted that that he would only provide £233,000 a year for the centres.
"Increased support for the victims of rape was an important part of Boris Johnson’s pledge to Londoners to tackle crime if they elected him. Now he is in office, and despite there being more rapes, he has cut his proposal by more than £500,000."
"My alternative budget for London will prove that the mayor can afford this funding. Indeed, cancelling his pointless plans for a new Routemaster bus would pay for the centres six times over.
"Boris may say that he can lever in funds from elsewhere, but unless the long-term funding that I am proposing is assured, rape victims will continue to suffer from inadequate support."
ENDS
Notes to editors
* Jenny Jones is available for comment
* In the London Assembly Budget Committee held on the 16th of December, the Mayor stated that whilst he still intended to deliver four rape crisis centres in London, only £233,000 has been budgeted for this project in 2009/10, with the aim of encouraging boroughs and other partners to fund a further £233,000.