The Home Office is under pressure over funding for policing local streets. London Councils, which represents the 33 London boroughs, challenged officials over the rising number of local authorities funding bobbies on the beat of police community support officers. The group highlighted how Kensington & Chelsea RBC was funding 76 support officers, and Hammersmith & Fulham LBC was set to fund a third team of police officers. Hammersmith councillor Greg Smith said: ‘It is up to the Home Office to release our bobbies from obstructive red tape. If they did this, then maybe council taxpayers might not have to foot the bill.' A Home Office spokesman said police forces had already seen an increase in funding.