All 999 calls in Merton will be answered by police officers based in Mitcham under new proposals set to come into force.

Councillors and MPs have welcomed the decision by Merton police to install new facilities at Mitcham police station and redeploy officers from Wimbledon to Mitcham, despite concerns it will take longer to get to emergency callouts in the west of Merton.

At a public meeting in Mitcham on March 17, Merton’s new borough commander, Chief Detective Superintendent Darren Williams, anticipated there would be concerns from Wimbledon residents about the change.

He said: “All the emergency teams are moving to Mitcham so they can get to 999 calls quicker. It is for me to manage the residents of Wimbledon Village and explain why.

“But if I look at the raw data this should have happened a while ago. The demand is disproportionately in Mitcham.”

Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond said he had spoken to Chief D Supt Williams about the change.

Mr Hammond said: “My concern is that my constituents get the best service.

"The borough commander has spoken to me about how resources are best utilised.

“While the base may be located in Mitcham obviously response can be patched through to cars and officers out and about in Wimbledon. ”

Merton Council’s cabinet member for community safety, Councillor Edith Macauley, said: “I thought when it was first announced that moving to a single base would be better.

“For me it sounds more efficient because the demand is in the east of the borough and we already have a problem where Mitcham residents think Wimbledon residents get everything they want.”

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