A total of 72 police posts in Waltham Forest have been left unfilled, according to the latest Met figures.

Data showing vacancies in London show the borough was in the top three for unfilled posts.

London assembly member for north east London, Jennette Arnold, revealed the figures yesterday and claimed police could be holding off from employing new officers to keep costs down.

The figures, released to Labour London Assembly Member Joanne McCartney, show there could have been an extra 19 sergeants and 53 officers in the borough in a force of 664.

Waltham Forest had an 11 per cent vacancy rate, followed by only Hackney and Islington at eight per cent.

Across the capital there was a £13.7m Met underspend on police officer pay.

Ms Arnold said: “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 to ensure our police force is up to strength and vacancies are filled as quickly as possible.

“It is an absolute scandal that police numbers have been allowed to fall this low, these vacancies are leaving a gaping hole at the heart of our local police force.

“Now we learn that on top of that, between eight percent and11 per cent of Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest’s sergeants and constables are missing due to unfilled vacancies, that’s 171 extra officers who should be on the streets of Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest.”

Waltham Forest Police have been asked to comment.