Residents may have read that at a recent meeting of the Harrow Police and Community Consultative Group, Borough Commander Dal Babu announced the “best set of crime figures ever in the history of Harrow.”

These figures covered the period between April 2009 and April 2010, with particularly encouraging statistics including a 30 per cent drop in burglaries and a 16 per cent fall in knife crime. It is important to stress that even before these statistics were released, Harrow was and remains a low crime borough.

However, it is because of this that when serious crimes do sadly and occasionally occur, they seem more shocking to us than they would be to those living in areas where such crimes are more commonplace.

Having had the privilege of working with Harrow’s police over the last four years, I sincerely believe that they are the best force in London.

I also believe that the close relationship between the police and Harrow Council’s Conservative administration played a part in achieving these record crime figures.

The council funded the dedicated town centre police team and, jointly with the police, the affectionately nicknamed ‘iPlod’ kiosk.

The police have also been enormously supportive of our Weeks of Action, as well as the recent and exciting Neighbourhood Champions and Smart Water schemes – both of which have proven very popular with residents. We worked together in a united fashion, with one clear priority – keeping the people of Harrow safe.

Despite now finding ourselves in opposition I look forward to maintaining a good relationship with the police, while properly scrutinising Labour’s use of their formidable knowledge and resources.

I would also like to send heartfelt congratulations to our Borough Commander Dal Babu, who we have just learned has received an OBE.

Councillor Susan Hall, Leader of the Conservative Group, Harrow Council