Extra policing speeds up for spring (From Hillingdon Times)

Extra policing speeds up for spring

9:35am Friday 20th January 2006 in News By Rachel Sharp

NEIGHBOURHOODS will be safer in Hillingdon this spring thanks to the roll-out of more community policing.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and Mayor of London Ken Livingstone have announced that the roll-out of dedicated community police teams will be speeded up so every neighbourhood has a full team in place by April.

Hillingdon already has eight wards with Safer Neighbourhood teams, which are made up of a sergeant, two police constables and three police community support officers.

The remaining 14 wards in Hillingdon should have teams in place by the end of April, although they will not initially be full strength teams. The wards will have a sergeant and one police constable, as well as two police community support officers, but the Met has said that each team will be expanded to six members by April, 2007.

Borough Commander for Hillingdon, Chief Superintendent Mark Toland, told the Hillingdon Times: "I am really pleased about the announcement. It means that every ward will now have a dedicated team, which is great for the community. The wards in place so far have had great success, and I am delighted that all 22 wards should have their own teams by April."

Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair described the accelerated roll-out as the greatest development in community policing London has seen in the past 30 or 40 years, and said he had no doubt it would have a significant impact on crime and public reassurance.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "My budget for 2006/7 will provide the funding for dedicated local policing teams throughout the city, increasing the number of teams from the current 285 to a total of 625.

"With every single extra beat police officer and police team that is being added to London's neighbourhoods we are going to reduce the room for crime, disrespect and antisocial behaviour."