Teams will be permanently based in designated areas and will patrol at busy times

The Metropolitan Police has begun the first phase of its town centre teams reboot using the first of its Uplift recruits.

London has 12 new teams tasked with tackling crime and public safety and another seven teams will be taking to the streets in February.

In total, 500 officers will be joining 19 Town Centre Teams across London, while a further 150 will join London’s dedicated ward officers.

The town centre teams in the first tranche are:

• The West End, Westminster.
• Barking, borough of Barking and Dagenham.
• Croydon, Croydon borough.
• Lewisham, Lewisham borough.
• Brixton, Lambeth borough.
• Uxbridge, Hillingdon borough.
• Camden Town, Camden borough.
• Wood Green, Haringey borough.
• Kingston, Kingston-Upon-Thames borough.
• Shoreditch, Hackney borough.
• Wembley, Brent borough.
• Stratford, Newham borough.

The change, driven by the influx of new officers, is partially reversing the decision to spread resources across areas. That decision was taken during the austerity era when the force was short of both money and officers.

The new teams will be permanently based in the designated areas and will patrol at busy times, including evenings, to have the most impact on crimes and public safety.

The teams typically consist of 25 additional officers – one inspector, two sergeants and 21 constables. Once in place, local police leaders will have the discretion to increase the size of the teams as required.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who joined the new Wood Green unit for a photocall made no secret of their priorities.

He said: “These officers will increase the police presence in London, provide high visibility patrols of local areas, strengthening partnerships with local councils and communities to reduce violence, and enable the Met to continue to focus on tackling violent crime and anti-social behaviour – helping to make the capital safer.

“Thanks to relentless effort by the Met Police and record funding from City Hall, violent crime is now falling – but there is still much more to do. I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure the police have the resources they need to bear down on violence and provide vital public reassurance.”

During the second phase, Town Centre Teams will be introduced in:

• Ilford, Redbridge borough.
• Bromley, borough of Bromley.
• Woolwich, Greenwich borough
• Hounslow, Hounslow borough.
• Enfield, Edmonton borough.
• Harlesden, Brent borough.
• Euston, Camden borough.

Deputy Commissioner Sir Steve House said: “We have been keen to invest more in the many local town centres in London. Now we have the extra officers we are deploying them where they are needed the most. Londoners will see more officers on foot patrol in busy areas.”

 “We know communities want to see and speak to more local officers and this initiative will give them just that.”