Newly released figures show West London’s borough police forces have hundreds of vacancies.

In May this year, which are the latest numbers available, there were a total of 1,209 vacancies for sergeants and constables across the capital’s 32 borough forces - 403 of those were in west and north west London’s eight boroughs.

The figures obtained by Labour London Assembly Member Joanne McCartney highlight how 4,694 Metropolitan police officers and police community safety officers (PCSOs) were cut from London’s streets between May 2010 and May 2014.

They were revealed after Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) warned ‘forces across England and Wales plan to achieve most of their savings by reducing the number of police officers, PCSOs and police staff’ and most of the Met’s savings ‘come from reducing the size of the workforce’.

Ms McCartney, said: “It is an absolute scandal that police numbers have been allowed to fall this low, and these vacancies are leaving a gaping hole at the heart of the Met.”

Harrow has the highest percentage of vacancies across London, with 15 per cent of its posts unfilled, which translates to 63 officers out of a targeted 427.

In west London Hounslow is not far behind, with a 10 per cent vacancy rate, or 55 unfilled jobs. With 27 vacancies for sergeants, it has the most amount of top unfilled police jobs in London.

Kensington and Chelsea, Brent, Hillingdon and Ealing all have 5 per cent of their posts unfilled and all are in double digits over 20.

Westminster has a four per cent vacancy rate, with 48 unfilled posts out of a target of 1,241 officers and Hammersmith and Fulham has a four per cent vacancy rate, or 22 officer openings out of a target of 545.

Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter branded the figures as shocking and said: “Once againt we see we cannot trust the Tories with our local police force. Boris should stop worrying about his own ambitions and take immediate action to make sure the police force is at full strength.”

Murad Qureshi AM, Labour London wide Assembly Member, added: “In his manifesto Boris Johnson pledged to put more officers on the beat. It’s an absolutely scandal police numbers have been allowed to fall this low.

“Either the depth of officer morale is so low they are haemorrhaging officers, or these posts are being kept open to keep costs down. Either way the Mayor should take immediate action.”