THE long arm of the law is stretching out across the borough.

Starting on Monday there will be more than 50 extra police officers on the beat in Bromley as part of the Safer Neighbourhood initiative.

This initiative aims to improve links with the community and reduce crime by putting a dedicated team of a police sergeant, a police constable and two Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) in every ward in Bromley.

By June all of the teams will be expanded and have an extra police constable.

The 14 new teams will join the eight teams already working in the Orpington, Hayes and Coney Hall, Biggin Hill and Darwin, Penge and Cator, Bromley Town Centre, Mottingham and Chislehurst and Cray Valley East wards.

These teams have already reduced crime in their areas. The biggest reduction is the Hayes and Coney Hall area with a drop of 21.1 per cent.

Bromley borough commander Chief Superintendent Martin Greenslade said: "Traditionally in the police we have tackled crime in a particular way which has been successful but this is a step towards change.

"Every ward is going to have a dedicated team which will not be taken away.

"They are there for the community to tackle the issues which mean so much to them.

"We want people working with their officers for the community, making Bromley somewhere which is a safer and more enjoyable place to live."

Each team of Safer Neighbourhood Officers (SNOs) has a mobile telephone number, charged at local rates, for residents to call them on and can also be reached at their team office.

SNOs can only be assigned to duties outside their ward when there is a terrorist incident or extra policing is required for events such as the Notting Hill Carnival.