Neighbourhood inspectors will make Westminster streets safer

I want to reassure residents, businesses and visitors that the creation of neighbourhood inspectors as part of the modernisation of our street service will actually improve how we serve the needs of our local communities (Row over new street 'super inspectors', W&V February 4).

What we propose is for each area to have its own neighbourhood inspector who local people will know by name and can contact directly.

This will be in addition to a rapid response team of inspectors who will be deployed to areas as required, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and will drive forward the Westminster Street Standard - the council's pledge to provide the world-class clean and safe streets that people expect. This new service will combine the best that both City Guardians and our existing inspectors have to offer, and be fully trained and equipped to make a real difference on the street.

It's nearly a decade since the council created City Guardians, against a backdrop of rising crime and a reduction in the level of local policing. This pioneering idea was replicated across the country, and helped lead to the move to neighbourhood policing which has seen the police invest nearly �6m per year in Westminster alone.

We are confident that our changes will actually enable us to tackle problems far more effectively, as well as saving council taxpayers �2.1million a year. I want our new inspectors to build relationships with local people, take ownership of a local area and be easily contactable.

When the proposed new team is launched in July it will be tasked with implementing a major crackdown on litter, dumping and anti-social behaviour - key issues I know that local people want us to tackle head-on.

Cllr Daniel Astaire

Cabinet member for community safety

Westminster City Council