24/7 neighbourhood policing trial

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6491323.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A new neighbourhood policing scheme in west London is the first in the country to provide round-the-clock police patrols in parts of its borough.

Hammersmith & Fulham will spend £1.5m for the teams covering Fulham Broadway and Shepherds Bush town centres.

More than 30 hand-picked police officers will be on patrol from next month tackling anti-social behaviour.

It follows the murder of Kodjo Yenga, 16, who was stabbed to death in Hammersmith 10 days ago.

Some people are frightened to leave their homes Michael Wallace

Michael Wallace from the Oswald Stoll Mansions Residents Association in Fulham said: "We get a lot of problems around here in the early hours of the morning.

"Some people are frightened to leave their homes because of the gangs and drunks around the place. Hopefully the 24/7 neighbourhood policing will stop the rowdiness."

Each town centre will have its own team made up of a dedicated and accountable police inspector managing five sergeants, 10 police constables and 15 police community support officers.

"Residents want protection and they want it round the clock," said Hammersmith & Fulham councillor Greg Smith.

"And now, working with the Met, we are the first council in the UK to provide police with funding to put local patrols on the streets, day and night, every day of the year."