s=10RESIDENTS of affluent Hadley Wood have taken the fight against crime into their own hands by hiring a private security firm to patrol the neighbourhood.o

The Hadley Wood Residents Association has employed Hertfordshire firm SectorGuard to look after its streets in a move that is backed by Met Police Borough Commander Janet Williams.

Marked and unmarked vehicles will patrol the neighbourhood 24 hours a day, seven days a week and panic buttons will link each household to uniformed guards. Each household is paying a minimum of £500 a year to take part in the scheme.

Police have been in consultation with residents and the security firm from the start and it is hoped the scheme, launched on Monday, will boost efforts to fight crime in the borough.

The wealthy neighbourhood, which is home to high profile names including Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp and boxer Lennox Lewis, is a popular target for criminals.

In the past few months residents have been beaten up on their doorstep by robbers who have then gone on to ransack their homes.

Task Force representative and resident Stuart Singer said: "Hadley Wood is seen as a low crime area. We are policed by Edmonton police station and consequently when we have a problem police can't reach us as quickly as they would like to.

"More than 300 residents agreed something should be done. The police have backed us all the way and the residents are delighted."

If the scheme is a success it will follow in the footsteps of other wealthy London neighbourhoods which have hired security guards in South Kensington, Chelsea and Primrose Hill.

David Marks of SectorGuard said: "The demand for the provision of local security solutions by private firms is increasing.

"Our guards are intensively vetted and trained to provide highly efficient and effective service to the area being patrolled.

"We provide a solution that offers reassurance and re-establishes public confidence."

Borough Commander Janet Williams said: "We are confident that credible security services with intelligence links with police can assist in crime prevention and reduce the fear of crime in the community."

Hadley Wood resident Simon Lester said: "The message we want to put out to robbers is that if you've got criminal intentions then steer clear of Hadley Wood."

July 9, 2002 10:00