Concerns over loss of local police team

Following a 10-minute DVD film on policing in Harrow, Mr Babu told the meeting of about 60 residents: "There is a really good public spirit here, I have worked in 11 London boroughs and you would struggle to get a turnout like this anywhere else.

"We are reviewing our safer neighbourhoods but I have made clear we will have the same amount of resources.

"Pinner and Pinner South wards will merge and a community board will advise on where we can put those additional resources, to give us more flexibility and to move officers to where they are needed.

"Despite the different demands of each ward at the moment they all have the same structure.

"The safer neighbourhood teams (SNTs) have allowed us to tackle anti-social behaviour and I want to reassure you that we want to maintain what we have achieved in reducing crime.

"It would make no sense to lose that confidence we have built up in the community."

Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner MP Nick Hurd, who attended the meeting despite a badly injured foot, quizzed Mr Babu on how the loss of a local police team would impact the area.

The chief inspector responded: "We are asking for a degree of flexibility, we have the opportunity to deploy those resources where we need them and it will help all areas in Harrow.

"We can go to where groups congregate, like Wealdstone, and we can problem solve rather than just arresting them and waiting for them to come back."

The meeting also heard a report from the association's planning spokesman, Geoffrey Wheal, who said Pinner had seen a significant reduction in instances of 'garden grabbing' since new rules on the classification of it as greenfield land, rather than brownfield, were introduced last June.

He said: "Developers have realised that these schemes no longer have any future."

And High Street spokesman Keith Schofield appealed to residents to support local independent shops. He said: "If you don't we will see even more empty shops around."