BUDGET cuts which will see five safer neighbourhood sergeant posts axed in Enfield have been approved.

Members of the Metropolitan Police Authority yesterday approved by eight votes to seven the results of the review into local police teams which includes a cut of 150 sergeants across the Met.

In Enfield, five posts are to go, and some sergeants will be asked to oversee more than one safer neighbourhood team to make up the shortfall.

It is expected the reduction in Sergeants will have happened by September this year.

Joanne McCartney, assembly member for Enfield and Haringey and a member of the MPA, voted against the review yesterday, and said she was disappointed the move had been approved.

She said: “We are really beginning to see the effect that Government cuts are having locally and it is a real loss to see slicing budgets begin to erode the fantastic work of our local teams.”

The review into safer neighbourhood teams also recommended local wards will have two PCs and three PCSOs assigned to them according to the original model.

However, borough commanders will be able to move officers temporarily to other wards if needed, although it is not clear exactly under what circumstances that is permitable.

The Met has guaranteed all wards will have at least one PC and one PCSO working the patch during a time when other officers have been seconded to other wards.