An additional 18 officers have been called in to patrol Barking following the tragic murder of a 24-year-old last week, a top police officer has revealed.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Chief Superintendent Jason Gwillim has rolled out 18 more officers in Barking. Pic: Ken MearsChief Superintendent Jason Gwillim has rolled out 18 more officers in Barking. Pic: Ken Mears (Image: Archant)

Tri-borough commander Jason Gwillim said the officers from both specials and community support teams were patrolling the area in case another incident occurred following the stabbing.

The victim, who has been named locally as Abrabhman Juma, was knifed to death in Crows Road as he walked home after attending evening prayers at his mosque last Friday at around 11.30pm.

Ch Supt Gwillim said he would “love” more police officers in his command, but does not know how many will be pledged by the Mayor of London.

Back in February Sadiq Khan committed to investing an additional £110 million into the Metropolitan Police in the next year, and £5m of it would be spent on recruiting additional officers.

Last week on an interview on LBC, Met Commissioner Cressida Dick revealed that the funding would be used to recruit 500 new officers, and Ch Supt Gwillim told the Post that he will be working with local politicians to work out where any new officers would be placed across his command.

He said: “It is good news for the Met, but there will be a lot of factors to consider to how many new officers will be allocated across the boroughs.”

“Of course I would love more officers but it isn’t that simple.”

He said that where the new officers will be allocated isn’t just down to the areas that have the most recorded crime.

According to the commander, factors such as the proposed amount of development within the area and the new Elizabeth Line are among the issues that could affect how many new officers come into his command.

The work of specials officers and PCSO’s was applauded by the commander who said if he was given any more officers he would be pro-active with placing them in areas that needed it the most, rather than deploying them after a crime had been committed.

Other pledges from the Mayor of London in his annual budget included:

- £49 million to be raised by a 5.1 per cent council tax increase. This will be spent on combating knife crime, a two pc police pay increase and boosting officer numbers.

- £55 million raised from business rates income so the Metropolitan Police do not have to borrow the amount previously planned for investing in police buildings and new technology.

- This will lead to a £3.3 million annual saving in interest payments that will be spent on improving support for those taken in by the police with mental health problems.

-£5 million to be spent on recruiting additional police officers in the coming year.

-From 2019-20, he will invest an additional £59 million annually raised predominantly from business rates income to support an extra 1,000 police officers than would otherwise be affordable by using income raised from business rates.