The police insist Richmond is one of the safest boroughs in London and a newly appointed neighbourhood inspector says he intends to keep it that way.

Inspector Jon McLoughlin, who has been in the police for 23 years, has long had a connection with the area, first serving as a PC in Twickenham from 1998-2001.

Insp McLoughlin has been meeting residents and those who work and visit the borough this month, as he takes the place of Inspector Rebecca Robinson as the new Richmond neighbourhood Inspector.

The Inspector said he is eager for his neighbourhood officers to be seen out on their wards, meeting locals and ensuring residents have a local police presence they can talk to about crime, anti-social behaviour and other persistent problems on the borough.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams, sometimes referred to as Safer Neighbourhood Teams, are teams based in every ward of the borough, consisting of two Police Constables and a Police Community Support Officer.

They deal with issues of anti-social behaviour, crime and persistent problems in their areas. This includes neighbourhood disputes, dangerous dogs, fly-tipping and crime hotspots, as well a number of other responsibilities.

Before taking up his role in Richmond, Insp McLoughlin has long been based in Twickenham, heading one of the response teams for the boroughs of Kingston and Richmond for several years.

He said: "I'm happy to return to neighbourhoods as the Inspector for Richmond, and I'm keen to ensure that the local teams can provide a good service for those who need it.

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"Richmond is a fantastic area, and I'm keen to ensure it remains one of the safest boroughs in London."

"I hope that my officers will be able to provide a great presence in the community, and that they can attend local events to meet their residents."

If you would like to speak to your local officer, please visit the Met's website here

You can also follow Richmond Police or your local ward teams on Twitter, Facebook, Nextdoor or OWL.