Residents expressed anger at authorities for neglecting their safety following the killing of a young Tamil father.

Tuesday's public meeting, held at The New Horizon Centre in South Lodge Avenue, Mitcham, was held to address residents' concerns after Akilankumar Kanthasamy, 29, was killed outside the centre during a child's birthday party on Saturday.

Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh chaired the discussion between residents, police, councillors and housing association representatives.

A key concern raised was poor lighting and surveillance cameras in Pollards Hill centre and estate.

Mr Kanthasamy was stabbed in the vicinity of a a CCTV camera in the New Horizon Centre’s car park but, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Dunne said, no footage could be seen because it was too dark.

Jenny Hill, from the Commonside Community Development Trust, said: “The lighting is horrendous which allows gangs to gather there.

"There’s pockets where they can get and they know they can’t be seen.”

A representative from Moat housing association said they were working with the council to improve lighting, security and public safety in all affected areas.

He said: “We are working with Merton over the next couple of weeks to undertake in-depth night walkabouts to identify those lights that we share in communal areas to address them over a period of time.”

One resident from the Pollards Hill estate, which neighbours the community centre, said: “I think people in this borough are a multitude of things. They’re scared, they’re worried, they’re obviously concerned.”

Many complained that authorities had not done enough to address problems reported in the past, especially anti-social behaviour, and pointed to the lack of a police presence.

Ms Hill added: “We have been continuously complaining about the gangs that hang around and nothing has been done.

“The irony of it is they’re directly opposite the police Safer Neighbourhood Team office.”

Safer Neighbourhoods Teams are police patrol bases open mostly during the day but do not have manned front counters like a police station and do not contain officers on hand to respond to emergency calls.

Chief Inspector Jim Cook of Merton Police said: "They’re not a response team. They are local police with local knowledge and they’re there to deal with issues that affect you within the local community.”

One resident shouted: “They’re not there when they needed.”

Sergeant Keith Moody, who leads the Pollards Hill SNT, said his officers were working as hard as possible to help residents.

He reminded residents of Autumn Nights, a police operation started on October 17 and includes after-dark patrols and searches to combat crime and anti-social behaviour.

A 16-year-old boy had been arrested in connection with the case where he remains in custody this morning after police applied for an extension for further detention. There have been no further arrests as of this morning.

Mark Clark, Merton Youth Service manager, said the council has a zero-tolerance approach to alcohol and drug abuse and weapon possession.

Sergeant Moody of Safer Neighbourhoods Team said his officers were also trying to engage with young people to discourage violent crime.

Naomi Martin, chief executive of the Commonside Community Development Trust, hoped the meeting would help residents and authorities communicate better.

She said: “We really want to use this awful situation to benefit the community as much as we possibly can."

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Were you at the meeting on Tuesday evening? What do you think? Contact Omar by calling 020 8722 6335; tweeting @OmarOakes or emailing: ooakes@london.newsquest.co.uk.