EVERY council ward in Bexley will have a dedicated local policing team by April.

The decision, announced by London Mayor Ken Livingstone and Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair, means each area will be one step nearer to reaching the policing levels of the borough's 10 Community Safety Action Zones, which have teams of six.

From April all 21 wards will have a sergeant, a constable and two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), who cannot be taken away for duties elsewhere.

By 2007 the other 11 wards should have the two other team members which make up an action zone team another PC and a third PCSO.

Bexley's action zones have been successful in reducing anti-social behaviour in their areas, where residents meet regularly with their policing teams.

Detailed planning is now under way to prepare for the 11 new action zones.