NEIGHBOURHOOD police teams in the borough could be merged to save money.

Proposals outlined by Waltham Forest's head of Safer Neighbourhoods Teams (SNTs) include changing the boundaries of some SNT wards.

Police are currently consulting with councillors and others working in community safety on possible changes.

The move comes as the Metrolitan Police finalise plans to save as much as £100 million in 2010/11 due to budget cuts.

Claire Wynnick, Chief Inspector of Safer Neighbourhoods in Waltham Forest, said no firm decision had yet been made about the future of SNTs.

She added: "As part of the consultation we have asked if there should be more flexibility to allow teams to work across ward boundaries.

"This could be achieved by groups of wards creating a small tasking team of eight to 12 PCs and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) drawn from the 'cluster' or wards working on 2/3 of the key priorities identified by ward panels.

"Each ward would retain responsibility for community engagement enabling us to have small tasking teams in the north, south and central parts of the borough."

She added that resources could also be redistributed to areas with higher levels of crime.

She said: "A team with lower crime and call demand would have a minimum team of at least one PC and two PCSOs and other teams [could] increase accordingly using the same number of staff across the borough but in a demand led distribution."

Further details of possible boundary changes have not been released.

The consultation ends later this month.

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