Police are cutting costs by reducing the number of sergeants leading safer neighbourhood teams (SNTs).

Sutton police has announced it is reducing the number of SNT sergeant posts from 18 to 14 by September.

The changes means not all SNTs, based in each of the borough's 18 wards, will no longer have their own dedicated sergeant.

Senior officers have decided the SNTs in six of Sutton's lowest crime wards will now have to share three sergeants.

Nonsuch and Worcester Park SNTs will now share a sergeant, as will Cheam and Sutton West, and Sutton South and Belmont.

Police said no officers would lose their jobs as a result of the changes, as officers will retire or be redeployed.

Inspector Colin Baker, area inspector for SNTs in Beddington, Carshalton and Wallington, said he did not expect the changes to impact on the police's effectiveness.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Chambers, from Sutton police, said: “Each of the 18 wards will retain its own identity.

"They will be fully staffed with PCs and PCSOs and a dedicated police sergeant will still head each team.

"The Area Inspectors will retain an overview of all ward activity and allocate additional resources if necessary.”

Belmont and South Cheam Residents Association chairman Peter Mattey said he hoped the changes would have no negative impact.

He said: "Time will tell."