Increased policing in Mitcham and Colliers Wood has helped drive crime down over the summer, a public meeting heard last week.

Sergeant John Phillips of Merton Police told residents and councillors at the Colliers Wood and North East Mitcham Community forum, a surge in officer numbers had led to a sharp reduction in reported burglaries and drop in overall crime.

Five wards were targeted as part of Operation Lockdown with community policing teams drafted in from quieter parts of Merton through July and August prompting the area’s burglary rate to fall by nearly a third compared to last year.

Mitcham summer fair was also crime free for a third year running as police again showed a greater presence at the event on the common.

Barriers were erected, cordoning off the fairground, and knife searches conducted during last month’s event.

According to Sergeant Phillips, the precautions were necessary following problems with gang violence at previous fairs.

He said: “These measures, introduced over the last three years, have helped turn the fair into much more of a family event.”

He added: “We have relatively low crime in Merton but that doesn’t mean we’re without our challenges.”