A POLICE boss has paid tribute to the former chairman of a ward safety panel.

Bromley police’s borough commander Chief Superintendent Charles Griggs heaped praise on Judith Cross as she stepped down from chairing the Darwin Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panel.

Mrs Cross had been on the panel since October 2006 and has been replaced by Annabel Griffiths.

Mr Griggs said: “Judith has been a real supporter of the Darwin Safer Neighbourhood Team and she has championed local community issues and challenged me.

“We, the police, are accountable to the local community and Judith has made sure that this has happened.

“She has installed a real can-do culture on the panel.”