Outgoing borough commander Chief Superintendant Adrian Roberts will be replaced by the boss of neighbouring Wandsworth, he has revealed.

Speaking at a Croydon Community Police Consultative Group meeting on Wednesday September 14 Chief Supt Roberts, who has been handed the task of overseeing policing of the London 2012 Olympics, named Chief Superintendant Dave Musker, commander in Wandsworth for the past year as his successor.

He said: "I honestly feel Croydon is going in the right direction.

"He will build on what we have achieved. He believes in young people, he believes in the same issues I have tried to brigade.

"He has proved himself in Wandsworth and if I had been given the choice I don’t think I could have picked anyone else."

At the meeting it was also revealed Chief Supt Musker was brought in to oversee policing of the rioting in Croydon after the violence escalated.

Chief Supt Roberts said: "He is one of the best public order trained officers in the Met."

Joining the Metropolitan Police in 1989, Chief Supt Musker, who holds a doctorate in plant biochemistry has worked in Hounslow, Streatham, Brixton and Wandsworth.