Money previously spent on extra police officers will now be used to fund a series of schemes aimed at improving community safety.

Brent Council’s cabinet agreed to end its contribution to the ‘Patrol Plus’ scheme, which funded six additional officers in the borough.

The programme, which sees the Metropolitan Police fund a police officer for each one paid for by a local authority, is under threat and Brent’s involvement was set to end in March.

By bringing it to a close several months early, the council plans to use an extra £700,000 for several schemes that promote prevention and early intervention.

These include a mental health outreach officer, a community liaison officer and an officer to support young, vulnerable women.

Cllr Tom Miller, responsible for community safety and engagement, said: “One of the challenges we have had to face in recent times is the loss of funding from the Met for the Partnership Tasking Team.

“But it’s important to try and turn some of the negatives we face into positive outcomes.

“All of this adds up to moving towards prevention and early intervention to make sure that people do not end up in certain situations.”

The police service in north-west London has come under strain over the past few years and underwent an organisational change last year.

It saw several commands across the capital merge into ‘borough command units’ to cover a larger area.

Under the new system, Harrow, Barnet and Brent are now covered by a single unit.

Cllr Miller previously said the council “does not support” cuts to the police service but that its priority will always be to “help keep residents safe”.