Shake-Up For Merton's Police Teams
New system splits borough into three
A shake-up to the Safer Neighbourhood police teams in Merton means the borough will be divided into three policing areas.
Each area will have their own inspector, while each council ward will still have a dedicated PC and PCSO.
The new areas, and the inspectors covering them, are:
Inspector Jim Corbett - Hillside, Trinity, Wimbledon Village, Abbey, Wimbledon Park and Dundonald
Inspector Stuart Buchan - Lavender Fields, Graveney, Long Thornton, Pollards Hill, Figg's Marsh, Cricket Green and Colliers Wood
Inspector Matt Boyd - Cannon Hill, Lower Morden, Ravensbury, Merton Park, Raynes Park, St Helier and West Barnes.
Merton Borough Commander Darren Williams (left) said: "This is the biggest change to policing that we have ever undertaken.
"Everyone here is looking forward to the changes as Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) will be available later into the evening, at peak times, seven days a week. They will supported by other units including emergency response and patrol whilst investigative and specialist teams will ensure we investigate the most serious crime, manage the dangerous and protect the vulnerable.
"Each ward will continue to have a dedicated PC and PCSO who won't be removed from their ward and you will see more officers out on foot and on bikes as the other SNT officers will work across wards, cutting crime, supporting victims and tackling anti social behaviour.
"We will also continue to take people from the community out on patrol with us and act on the things that you tell us are important to you."
The new system was launched on Monday (July 8).
Superintendent Williams said: "I am delighted to tell you all that crime is not only down at the tennis this year but more importantly, crime continues to fall right across the borough.
"Residential burglary is down 8%, robbery is down 21%, vehicle crime is down 16%, violent crime is down 14% and in every single crime area we are solving more crimes than we did last year. As many of you have heard me say, "better never stops" and we will continue to work with people across the borough, our award winning local authority and our supportive partners to find ways to do new things to drive down crime even further and provide a better and more effective service for you."
He later reported that Merton currently has the best "satisfaction" levels in the regular performance tables carried out for the 32 police areas in London.
"I am incredibly proud to tell you that Merton Borough now has the highest "Satisfaction" levels anywhere in London. Please don't think this means we don't at times get things wrong. We do and I acknowledge that, but "Satisfaction" is measured purely on the service we have given you when you have asked for our help and it appears that we must be getting things right in the majority of cases," he said.
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July 9, 2013