The time it takes for police to respond to the most urgent 999 calls in Merton has risen significantly since merging with several neighbouring boroughs.

In June this year, Wandsworth, Kingston, Richmond and Merton units were combined to form the current Borough Command Unit.

But figures sent to Merton Councillor Paul Kohler and seen by the Wimbledon Times show that the switch hasn't exactly gone smoothly.

In the four months prior to the merger (January 18 - April 18) response times across Merton for the most serious 999 calls averaged nine minutes and 30 seconds, below the 15 minute target.

In the four months after the merger (June 18 - September 18) this deteriorated by more than 50 per cent to an average of 15 minutes and 15 seconds (with a peak of 17:44 in July).

Sally Benatar, South West BCU Commander, said since the borough commands of Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth merged to form the South West BCU, she has been monitoring the response to emergency calls.

"Whilst response times remain in line with the Metropolitan Police average in Merton and Wandsworth Boroughs, they have increased for both Kingston and Richmond Boroughs," she said.

"We are taking a number of steps to reduce response times in the face of increasing operational demand across the four boroughs.

"One of these steps is to reduce the demand on response officers by diverting calls that don’t need a face to face response to our Local Resolution Team or Telephone and Digital Investigation Unit, whilst ensuring that the most appropriate response is provided to each caller according to their needs and the level of risk."

But Mr Kohler, who was badly beaten by burglars in his own home in 2014, said the rise was unacceptable.

"I am appalled by this dramatic fall in response times following the merger," he said.

"The police who saved me arrived within eight minutes and I fear, after seeing these figures, I would be dead if the attack happened now."

"I am amazed that the mayor (Sadiq Khan) is even considering closing Wimbledon police station after this news; let alone that he is planning to make his decision without even re-consulting despite the dramatic fall in response times that has occurred since the last consultation ended."

There was an even more dramatic decline with regard to the second highest priority of 999 calls.

In the 4 months prior to the merger, S category response times across Merton averaged 38 minutes 6 seconds, again, below the one hour target.

But in the four months after the merger this more than tripled to an average of 1 hour 59 minutes and 1 second.

Ms Benatar said another way they are hoping to improve response times was to "make sure the closest vehicle available is always despatched to the call through improved command and control."

"I expect my response officers to arrive at incidents safely, and as promptly as possible, and to provide an excellent service to the public when they do arrive," she said.

"I am proud of the service they provide and the way they deal with whatever they are faced with, with courage and compassion.

"I am confident that the response times for Kingston and Richmond will improve with the internal measures I am taking."