�Residents in Havering won’t notice any difference to policing in spite of cuts, says the borough’s new Safer Neighbourhood Team boss.

Local man David Hay joined Havering police at the beginning of last week, at a time when the number of sergeants in the borough’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams is to be cut from 18 to 14.

Havering’s sergeants have already started re-applying for their jobs – with the changes to come into effect in September. The moves come as part of a cut of 150 across the entire Metropolitan Police force.

Supervise

Chief Insp Hay said: “All the sergeants are being invited to re-apply for their jobs to make sure that we’ve got the right people for the right place. It’s a real opportunity to drive things forward.

“In real terms the public shouldn’t notice the difference because a lot of sergeants within the Safer Neighbourhood Teams can supervise more than one team. The officers that actually go out and meet the public will continue as they are.”

He added that it gave new opportunities for teams to work across more than one ward.

The four sergeants who will no longer be in charge of the teams will be redeployed to other posts within the force.

The former St Edwards Secondary School and Ingrebourne Primary School pupil said that the public consultation showed that the public were supportive of the proposed changes within the context of the need for spending cuts to be made.

A report by the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has given rise to claims that 2,000 officers could disappear in London.But Chief Insp Hay said: “What’s being reported is the view of the HMIC. We’ve already got our internal review, the government and the MPA will have their reviews. We’ll be keeping the public aware of what’s going on.”

Mr Hay, 42, joins Havering Police from Enfield after a 22 year career in the Met. The married father of four served in Redbridge for five years between 2004 and 2009, where his work on tackling bogus traders was recognised by the Home Office.

Of the future challenges, he said: “Havering is one of the safest boroughs in London and we’re all totally committed to ensuring that it continues to be.”