Police have reorganised the way they operate in Sutton town centre in a bid to make the area safer.

For the first time, the two teams that police Sutton Town Centre and the Sutton Central Safer Neighbourhoods Team, have been brought together under the leadership of a single Inspector - Chris Green.

The changes mean that Insp Green will have more patrol officers working during the day and late at night to patrol the town centre and neighbouring roads and estates.

Insp Green said: “The aim is to achieve a more co-ordinated approach to tackling crime and running problem-solving initiatives in the town centre and surrounding areas to make the place even safer.

“It also means more resources can be available at any one time to tackle crime and issues as and when they arise in the whole of the centre of Sutton.”

Insp Green said the policing strategy would continue to build relationships with local residents and visitors in the town centre and surrounding areas.

It also aims to strengthen working partnerships with businesses and licensed premises and target those people intent on committing criminal and anti-social behaviour.

Insp Green said: “Our policing will be robust and relentless and offenders will quickly feel our presence as we get on their case.

"Offenders can expect to be arrested, charged and kept in custody.

“We will be ensuring firm enforcement of the licensing laws and working with licensees to prevent people from being drunk on their premises.

"We will be showing intolerance towards people who have had too much to drink.

“In addition, officers will be working closely with retailers to combat shoplifting including improving information and intelligence from retailers who are linked directly by radio to the control room at Sutton police station.”

The control room houses the borough’s state-of-the-art, digital CCTV system, which is monitored by specially trained staff and provides an average of 50 ‘downloads’ every month from the 70 cameras around the borough to officers investigating crimes.

Borough Commander Guy Ferguson, who has set up the new co-ordinated approach to policing in the town centre, said: “Sutton is a safe borough and we are determined to make it even safer.”

He emphasised that the initiative builds on police operations throughout 2009 and on the relationships that police have been developing with retailers, licensees, businesses and residents in the town centre. “Policing always works best when Police and communities work closely together.”

Borough Commander Ferguson urged residents to talk to their local officers and to share their issues and concerns about their local neighbourhood.

Councillor Graham Tope, executive member for community safety on Sutton Council, said: “Work resumes on the town centre regeneration in January and this new initiative will make sure that as the High Street and surrounding area looks more attractive, it feels safer too.

"By joining forces with the police, licensees and shopkeepers, we will make Sutton an even more popular place to visit and do business.”

The teams can be contacted as follows: Town Centre Teams: 020 8721 2897 (email: Sutton.tcnt@met.police.uk).

Sutton Central SNT: 020 8721 2710 (email: suttoncentral.snt@met.police.uk).