THE head of the Metropolitan Police has welcomed the news police budgets will not be further cut.

Chancellor George Osborne pledged to protect overall police spending in real terms during the Spending Review yesterday.

It came following grim warnings of the impact further cuts would have on the ability of forces to respond to Paris-style terror attacks.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Commissioner of the Met, said it was “the right decision”.

In a statement, he said: "We are pleased for the people of London that the Government has decided not to cut overall spending on the police.

“We believe it's the right decision given the variety of threats we're facing. These include terrorism, cybercrime and the significant increase in the reporting of sexual assaults and child abuse. We need to move resources into these areas and build up our firearms capability.

“Above all, we want to protect the people of London and make this the safest global city. So greater financial stability after the £600million pounds of savings we have made in the past few years is very welcome. It will help us keep the public safe.”

He added there was room for the force to be “more efficient”, and warned there were “some tough choices to come”.