POLICE could be moved from Wanstead and Woodford to other areas of the borough according to the area’s new police chief, as spending cuts start to bite.

Faced with financial reductions of 20 per cent over the next five years, Detective Chief Superintendent Sue Williams, admitted policing Redbridge would now be a juggling act.

Speaking publicly for the forst time since being appointed borough commander, she said: “We do not want to get rid of safer neighbourhood teams, but we may have to move staff to where there is more crime. They are going to have to be more flexible in their approach.

“The challenge, clearly, is going to be the effective and efficient policing of the borough with fewer resources.

“If we try to do everything, then we won’t do anything properly.”

Mrs Williams, who is married with one daughter, reiterated her determination to tackle violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

She said: “I want the processes in place to identify crimes like anti-social behaviour early. Once we have the information, we can take measures like installing fireproof letterboxes.“

Referring to the case of the woman who killed herself and her disabled daughter in 2007 after being tormented by yobs for years, Mrs Williams said: “I will not have another Fiona Pilkington case on this borough.”

Previously second-in-command in the neighbouring borough of Waltham Forest, she already has 28 years of experience in the Metropolitan Police and recalled how much the force has changed since she started in the 1980s.

“Back then it was like the BBC TV show Ashes to Ashes,” she said.

“It was sexist and it was racist. They were a hard bunch but I learnt very quickly.

“The service now is much more professional. There is a much stronger emphasis on treating people correctly.”