Merton’s police boss has spoken out about radical changes to community policing teams – claiming they are necessary, regardless of impending budget cuts of 30 per cent.

Last month, borough commander Chief Superintendent Dick Wolfenden revealed Merton police was planning to cut the number of safer neighbourhood teams from 20 ward-based teams, to nine merged teams.

Since then, the Metropolitan Police confirmed it was the “current intention” to save £15m by axing 300 safer neighbourhoods team sergeants across London.

Wolfenden: Merton needs "better policing for less"

But Chief Supt Wolfenden insisted Merton police would not have less officers involved in community policing, but would instead see officers moved around into more cost-effective roles, as the established model had become outdated.

Under the current structure, all 20 wards are led by one sergeant and manned by two PCs and three PCSOs, but the new nine teams – which would still cover all 20 wards – would vary in the number of sergeants, PCs and PCSOs, according to each area’s level of crime.

Chief Supt Wolfenden said: “Our challenge is to remain effective and efficient, no doubt economic benefits are likely to follow.

“As a public body it is important we constantly ask ourselves whether we are providing value for money.

“Within Merton police this is a constant process of improvement – regardless of the current budget situation.

“We relentlessly seek to provide our communities with better policing for less.”

Speaking at a Merton Council meeting last month, Chief Supt Wolfenden admitted Merton’s police budget was likely to be reduced 30 per cent by 2014, which could lead to reductions in frontline policing from 2012 onwards.

Politicians' mixed reaction

Richard Tracey, Merton and Wandsworth’s Conservative London Assembly member – and former Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) member – welcomed the proposals, saying adding flexibility to community policing was something he had “been advocating for years”.

But Councillor Stephen Alambritis, Labour leader of Merton Council, said changing the structure would lead to more crime.

Coun Alambritis said: “Chopping and changing in a way that loses identity will lead to more crime and a greater perception of crime.

“The criminal element is very quick to learn where resources are allocated.

“They will move to where resources are light on the ground – you just shift the problem elsewhere.”

Specialist teams pilot launched

The SNT proposals, due to be considered by the Metropolian Police Authority later this month, also advocate redeploying officers into specialist problem-solving teams, known as Volt teams, which would tackle specific issues in targeted areas over an allocated time period.

Volts, which focus on a particular crime by focusing on its victim, offender, location and time, have been piloted in Merton since last month.

So far Volts have targeted house burglaries in West Barnes and Mitcham and motor vehicle crime in Wimbledon Park, and the effects of these teams will be monitored over the coming months.

In a statement, a Met spokesman said: “We remain committed to maintaining a safer neighbourhoods policing model in which every neighbourhood has named officers who are responsible for identifying and tackling issues.

“However, in the light of our duty to respond to the fiscal challenges facing the entire public sector, we are in the middle of a review process looking to build on our current model, while improving efficiency, intelligence sharing, and problem-solving across boroughs.”

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