A major campaign to get more police officers on the streets of Croydon has been launched.

Croydon Council, backed by the Croydon Guardian, is calling on London Mayor Boris Johnson to fund extra cops to help fight against crime on the borough’s streets.

Croydon is the largest London borough with a thriving retail economy and night life as well as a busy transport hub and yet it has only been allocated the eighth highest number of police officers in the capital.

The Cops for Croydon campaign has cross party support from Croydon’s councillors and now residents, local businesses and commuters are being urged to add their weight to the scheme.

A report detailing why Croydon desperately needs more full time officers has been prepared and will be presented, along with a petition, to Mayor Johnson compelling him to find much needed resources for Croydon police force.

Councillor Gavin Barwell, cabinet member for safety and cohesion, said: “There is clear evidence that, relative to other boroughs, the number of full-time police officers in Croydon does not adequately reflect the number of offences. Newham, Hackney and Tower Hamlets have all been allocated more full-time police officers than Croydon, yet because they are much smaller than Croydon, they have to deal with fewer offences.”

He added: “I’m delighted the Guardian is backing our campaign for more police officers. The paper has a proud record of campaigning on behalf of Croydon and this is a campaign that could make a really positive difference to everyone in our community so it’s appropriate that the Guardian should be at the heart of it.”

Croydon is the largest London borough and is in the top five boroughs in London for crime.

It is a major transport hub, has a busy nightlife and a thriving retail economy.

Despite this, it has been allocated only the eighth highest number of police officers.

From September 2008 to August 2009 there were 33,350 offences reported to the police in Croydon.

Each of Croydon’s 721 full time police officers had to deal with an average of 46 of these offences. This is compared with 34 offences per police officer in Tower Hamlets.

During Operation Safe for All, between October 2008 and March 2009, Croydon was allocated additional police officers from the Territorial Support Group (TSG).

In its case to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) the council noted this resulted in a 19.5 per cent reduction in serious youth violence, a 36 per cent reduction in knife crime and robbery went down by 15 per cent.

Croydon received more support from the TSG in 2009 than any other borough except Lambeth and Southwark.

A spokesman said: “We are very grateful for this support but it suggests an underlying need for more police.”

Councillors also argue that the affluence of the south of the borough masks the inner London characteristics of the north.

Police are allocated on borough wide data. Croydon contains extremes of deprivation and affluence.

Croydon is involved in a number of initiatives such as the 5 Borough Alliance, to tackle cross-border gang issues across Croydon and four inner London boroughs – Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich.

The council has also been awarded a specific grant from the Home Office to tackle youth violence among 13 to 24-year-olds.

Croydon is one of 10 boroughs in London being offered the funding. All the rest are from inner London.

The UK Border Agency also puts pressure on policing resources with all in-country asylum applications now being made in Croydon.

A spokesman said: “Most asylum seekers are law-abiding people who have come here to build a better life but some have experienced serious trauma and those whose applications are denied are rarely removed from the country but are denied recourse to public funds and unable to work legally, meaning they have little choice but to resort to the black economy or petty crime to support themselves.”

To sign the petition, text MORE POLICE, followed by your name, first line of your address and postcode to 60660.

Alternatively log on to croydon.gov.uk/morepolice to sign online or fill in a postcards found at all Croydon libraries.

You will not need a stamp.