CAMDEN’S new police borough commander has said the Met will not “entertain” plans for Hampstead residents to fund their own officers, adding that it would set a dangerous precedent. 

In her first interview since she took over the role last week, DCS Penny Banham outlined her position on the proposals, in which members of the public hope to “crowdsource” £200,000 a year to pay for additional officers.

“At this stage I don’t think that the Met would entertain that,” said DCS Banham. “I don’t think it sets a good precedent. The police are here to provide a service to everybody.”

The fund-raising effort was launched last month in response to concerns that a reduction in community policing and the closure of Hampstead police station have led to an increase in “violent and aggressive” incidents, with criminals targeting the area’s wellheeled residents.

Jessica Learmond-Criqui, who chairs Frognal and Fitzjohn’s Safer Neighbourhood Panel – a police-community liaison group – and was the architect of the fundraising scheme, said: “To be honest I am shocked by the borough commander’s treatment of this issue. I feel let down by the comments [she] has made and I am embarrassed to find out her views in this way.

“I will reach out to her to further to understand her position and to discuss the matter. I am currently taking steps to enquire about the Metropolitan Police’s position.”

Last week the New Journal revealed that the Conservative London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith believed it was “not a completely outlandish idea”.

He said: “In Kingston we have effectively bought extra policemen in order to protect the town centre. That’s a combination of funding from the Mayor and the local authority. I don’t have any objection to that, it works in Kingston.”

His Green election rival Sian Berry, a councillor in Highgate, has denounced the strategy as “morally wrong”.

But at Holborn police station on Tuesday, DCS Banham looked to reassure residents of Hampstead that they lived in, statistically, one of the safest parts of the capital – rather than encourage the idea of funding their own officers.

She said: “Hampstead is one of the safest wards in London, so it’s unfortunate that there is a perception of crime, of course there is some crime.

“Every ward across this borough has the same numbers of officers within their neighbourhood policing team. The Met’s position at the moment is that that isn’t something we would look at at the moment. 

“We do have some very successful partnerships with business improvement districts – so there are occasions where the public fund officers, but there are extremely complex contractual arrangements in place.”