'Cashpoint cops' escort customers home from banks

The Met is offering to escort home people worried about being robbed in the street after they withdraw cash from their bank or post office.

The scheme has been set up by the Met's Safer Neighbourhoods team in Wanstead and Snaresbrook.

Pensioners, shoppers and businessmen can ring a number and get the sort of security normally reserved for royalty and senior politicians as they are walked to their door.

It mirrors a similar service adopted by many forces for cash security vans depositing and collecting large sums of money.

The service has divided opinion with campaigners for the elderly backing the move, while others have criticised it for wasting police resources.

Metropolitan Police Authority member Jenny Jones said: "I'm astonished that they think they have enough officers to do this.

"It seems to give out the message that it's not safe to walk the streets while carrying cash, which is nonsense as we all go out with money on us. I thought it was some kind of joke as it smacks of absurdity."

Tory MP Ann Widdecombe said: "The police always say they haven't got enough officers to combat-drug crime, but that's because they're doing silly things like this."

Posters advertising the service say: "Escorts from the police can only be made from the bank and then you will be escorted STRAIGHT HOME on foot, unfortunately the police cannot do your shopping with you."

One borough officer said the service was not set up because of a high risk of being mugged but as an "extra". She said: "As long as you live locally we will walk home with you." Scotland Yard said there was no extra cost as the scheme "is an extension of the team's normal duties, increasing police visibility in the area".