The Met departments facing cuts as police chiefs try to fill £450m black hole: How dog units, mounted branch and even the famous Flying Squad could be under threat

The Met's famous Flying Squad could be dramatically reduced in size and stripped of its weapons to fill a £450million funding black hole, Sir Mark Rowley has warned. Outlining plans for a 'worst case scenario' to tackle the Met's budget deficit, Sir Mark warned an axe could be taken to a series of departments including its famous Flying Squad robbery unit, which dates back to 1919. Met units that could be cut under a 'worst-case scenario' unveiled by Sir Mark Rowley Sir Mark Rowley pictured in London earlier this month for Emir of Qatar's state visit Armed members of the Met's Flying Squad arresting a man attempting to rob a bank in London in 2002 Sir Mark spoke out as the Home Secretary faces a revolt by police chiefs who have warned that thousands of officer jobs will have to be cut due to the forthcoming police funding settlement due to be announced later this week. Meanwhile, in a report submitted to the London Policing Board, Sir Mark Rowley said that the Met faces a £450 million budget shortfall in 2025/26, meaning that 2,300 officers and 400 staff could have to be cut.