A mass town centre brawl which left a man fighting for his life has sparked safety fears as police warn of the impact of more cuts to their services.
The armed fight involving axes and a sword on Monday, November 23, saw three men hospitalised with serious injuries, including one fighting for his life with severe head injuries.
Six men have been arrested, a 21 year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder, following the fight in Holborn Way.
November 25: Axes and a sword used in mass brawl in Holborn Way, Mitcham that left a man fighting for his life and six arrested
Five others aged 21, 27, 34, 37 and 40 have been bailed after being arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.
Violence with injury has increased across Merton as whole over the last 12 months, rising by 20.9 per cent - that is 1,238 incidents in 12 months from July 2014.
In a Safer and Stronger Communities report discussed at a full council meeting on Wednesday, November 18, it was suggested the rise in violence could be down to the way the crime is recorded and classified, rather than an increase in violence itself.
Although overall crime has gone down across Merton, the same report admitted that public confidence in policing has fallen by 11 per cent over the last two years.
Merton borough commander Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Macleod
It says confidence is particularly low in the Mitcham neighbourhood, which accounts for 41 per cent of all crime in the borough and 43 per cent of call demand, and has 68 per cent confidence in policing of those asked.
In comparison, the Wimbledon area accounts for 30 per cent of total crime with overall confidence at 79 per cent, and Morden accounts for 29 per cent of crime and confidence levels of 71 per cent.
Mitcham faced more violent crime on Friday, November 13, when sword and machete wielding robbers threatened a female shop assistant in Church Road and made off with cash, cigarettes and alcohol.
The report also identifies knife crime as a "challenge" in Merton, after a spate of stabbings in the last two months.
On Thursday, October 22, a Superdrug store in Mitcham was robbed at knife-point, while two teenagers were stabbed in one week in Morden in October.
A 19-year-old was stabbed in the back in Morden Road, near to the junction with Wandle Road, on Monday, October 5, and a 17-year-old was stabbed at 3pm in London Road, near Morden Court, on Thursday, October 8.
September 21: Man seriously injured in Raynes Park stabbing
October 14: Teenagers hospitalised after multiple stabbings in Morden
October 21: Teenager released on bail after stabbing in London Road, near Morden Court, Morden
October 23: Knife-wielding robber takes cash from Superdrug in Majestic Walk, Mitcham
A 17 year-old was arrested on Monday, October 12 after an investigation into the stabbing near Morden Court in London Road, Morden, on Thursday, October 8.
He has been bailed until a date in November while the investigation continues.
And, in Raynes Park, a man in his 20s was seriously injured in a stabbing in Lambton Road, on Saturday, September 19, after reports of a fight.
A week-long knife amnesty which ran from October 23 to 30 as part of the London-wide Operation Sceptre led to the collection of just two knives.
This increase in violence comes at a time when police are facing further cuts to their services.
Although full details of savings will not be revealed until the Comprehensive Spending Review in December, the report states that the Metropolitan Police Service are anticipating having to save a further £800 million across London.
Holborn Way, Mitcham, after the fight on Monday
These savings could include reducing the number of senior officers and sergeants, as well as either removing police community support officers altogether or reducing them to one per ward across London.
There is currently one inspector and one police sergeant deputy in each of the three neighbourhoods. Morden and Mitcham both also have seven police constables and seven police community support officers, while Wimbledon has six of each.
Each neighbourhood also has five sergeants and 20 constables as dedicated ward officers.
Cabinet member for community safety, engagement and equalities, Councillor Edith Macauley MBE, said she was "really concerned" about the difficulties facing police in the borough.
She said: "As politicians we have a duty for the safety of our residents. We have been one of the safest boroughs and we want to continue to be, but since the attacks in Paris everything has changed.
"Most of my residents are worried that they don’t see police officers around in the streets. People don’t feel as safe, but their numbers have gone down and they’re struggling.
"It’s a real concern. I’m really worried about what’s going to happen."
She added: "People from all different areas can see it’s not as safe as it used to be. In two weeks everything has changed, not only in Merton but everywhere."
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