Police sergeants could be taken off the beat under proposals due for debate by the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA).

Following the Metropolitan Police’s review of neighbourhood policing, Merton police will retain their neighbourhood teams and ward boundaries will still be aligned with political ones.

However, safer neighbourhood sergeant numbers may be reduced as a key proposal of the review, which would see officers taking on more than one team.

Instead, sergeants will be able to select their preferred wards, and those not selected to stay in their safer neighbourhood roles, will be posted in to available vacancies - local or corporate - through a police postings process.

Chief Superintendent Wolfenden said the Met was still committed to neighbourhood policing.

He said: "We intend for our safer neighbourhoods teams, which have become familiar sights in local communities, to continue to do the things they have always done by supporting local communities and helping address their crime or safety concerns. And we propose to keep each team with at least two PCs and three PCSOs, which we intend to protect from any reductions.

“As borough commander for Merton I will retain operational control of my SN teams and ensure they are being used in the right way to work with local people to help keep communities safe. I'm pleased to reaffirm The Met’s strong commitment to community policing.”

Wards with enhanced teams of six PCSOs will also retain their staff.

The changes will allow officers to move to other areas when they need support, but a Met spokesman said in these times of temporary deployment, wards would still retain a minimum strength of one PC and one PCSO, to keep a uniformed presence.

Proposals from The Met’s review of Safer Neighbourhoods are due to be discussed at the MPA's strategic and operational policing committee on June 16.