The Borough Commander says police resources will be focussed on crime hotspots after a police scrutiny panel suspended its work in protest at cuts to officer numbers.

Chief Superintendent Dal Babu admitted that some Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) had fewer officers than others, but said that he was expected to put more resources into areas where levels of crime were higher.

His comments came in response to the decision of Kirit Modi, chairman of Canons Ward Safer Neighbourhoods Panel, to suspend work after two PCSOs were moved from the ward and the sergeant reduced local priorities for officers from three to one.

Ch Supt Babu told the Harrow Times: “I am aware that some wards on the borough have fewer members of SNT staff than others. These tend to be the areas where fewer crimes are reported. “One of the reasons we have fewer PCSOs on the borough at the moment is because many of the officers we had have gone on to train to become PCs.

“As Borough Commander, the residents of Harrow would expect me to put my resources into areas where a higher level of crime or anti-social behaviour is being reported. “This however does not mean we are complacent and should we see an emerging crime trend in any area on the borough then I am confident that we have the resources to respond quickly and efficiently.”

He added that 23 newly-qualified PCs had been brought into the borough, mostly officers who had previously been PCSOs or Special Constables.

Figures show that between December last year and March 2012 in Canons ward, non-residential burglary and car theft has tripled, and residential burglary has doubled in the area, compared with the same period the year before.

The increase coincides with the cut in numbers to the ward’s SNT, which now has one sergeant – who also is in charge with another ward – two PCs and one PCSO.

Members of the Metropolitan Police Authority approved cuts of 150 sergeants across the Met last year, but recommended that each ward have two PCs and three PCSOs assigned to them.

However, borough commanders are able to move officers from “quieter wards” temporarily to other wards if needed, with a guarantee that at least one PC and one PCSO will be working each patch.