THE Commander of Camden police announced plans to create a single police unit with Brent to patrol Kilburn High Road. Chief Supt Dominic Clout told the Times he agreed with Brent s borough commander, Matt Gardner to create a single Kilburn Safer Neighbou

THE Commander of Camden police announced plans to create a single police unit with Brent to patrol Kilburn High Road.

Chief Supt Dominic Clout told the Times he agreed with Brent's borough commander, Matt Gardner to create a single Kilburn Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT).

Kilburn High Road falls between Camden and Brent and two separate SNTs patrol the area.

But this borough split led to different policing numbers, priorities and crime rates between the two sides of the high road. And residents and traders have for some time demanded a single force to create more cohesive policing.

Chief Supt Clout, on a walkabout with traders and residents in the high road last Wednesday, said he 'became convinced of the need to have a single police force.'

He said: "The Brent and Camden SNTs will come together and merge to create a joint policing force in Kilburn.

"If you look at the 32 London boroughs, each one has a border area where policing is blurred. But the difference in Kilburn is that this is a major high road, which is a significant hot spot with a variety of community safety issues.

"Having two separate forces doesn't make sense. Criminals don't recognise borders so we shouldn't."

And he guaranteed the unit will be up and running before he retires in November.

Brent and Camden police are in detailed discussions about how the force will be resourced, but Chief Supt Clout said he will increase the number of officers Camden allocated to Kilburn to ensure resources are evenly spread and Camden officers will begin work from Kilburn police station.

Residents and traders welcomed the announcement which, they said, would provide greater cohesion and accountability to policing in Kilburn.

Anis Kapadia, secretary of the Kilburn Business Friends, said: "It is a step in the right direction.

"For Kilburn to succeed, the two boroughs need to be singing from the same hymn sheet so this is what we need.

"We have to see how the details are worked out, but it's good news for the traders."

Margaret Von Stoll, who lives in Kilburn Square and sits on the Kilburn Ward SNT panel on the Brent side, said: "It is a victory for residents who have been calling for a joint force for some time."

kate.ferguson@archant.co.uk