A “u-turn” on controversial proposals to halve the number of police sergeants working in Mitcham community police teams has been welcomed by councillors.
A new sergeant, Gary Lambe, has been appointed to lead Longthornton safer neighbourhood team (SNT), which for months has been understaffed and had prompted fears Merton police had effectively merged it with its neighbouring SNT in Pollards Hill.
The issue of community policing in Merton has become a hotly contested political issue following a Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) consultation into the future the structures of SNTs in London.
Currently SNTs are supposed to comprise one sergeant, two police constables (PCs) and three police community support officers (PSCOs).
But in January, the Wimbledon Guardian exclusively revealed Merton police had put forward a proposal to the MPA to merge the borough’s 20 safer neighbourhood teams to create nine teams – meaning 11 sergeants would be either reallocated or not replaced if they left.
At that time Merton police’s borough commander, Chief Superintendant Dick Wolfenden, said the nine new teams would vary in size according to differing levels of crime in the borough, but would retain a minimum police presence in all 20 wards.
Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh, who has been highly critical of the plan and raised the issue twice with David Cameron at Prime Minister’s Questions, welcomed what she described as a “u-turn” by police.
Ms McDonagh said: “I think it is clear that [Mayor of London] Boris Johnson is sensitive about his re-election campaign for London Mayor next year, but we have to be constantly vigilant about what changes may come next year.
“I am delighted we have made them row back for a year, if that’s what they are doing, but we are very worried the Mayor and the Government may conspire with police to cut SNTs.
“Don’t forget that SNTs came about in the face of opposition from 30 years of policing history.”
Merton police’s preferred option also advocated redeploying officers into specialist problem-solving teams, known as Volt teams, which were hailed by the borough commander for providing better value for money.
Chief Inspector Mark Lawrence, who is in charge of Merton police safer neighbourhood team, said this week: “Occasionally, officers are used to assist other wards on specific operations.
"There are sometimes a limited number of vacancies but at no stage has there been a reduction in the amount of safer neighbourhood officers in Merton.
“We are very proud of the quality of neighbourhood policing we deliver in Merton, which has continued to see overall crime fall and confidence levels in local policing remain among the highest in London.”
What do you think should be done to improve policing in Merton? Leave a comment below, call 020 8722 6335 or email: ooakes@london.newsquest.co.uk.
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