Hounslow Town Centre is to get a new, dedicated policing team after an announcement by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to increase officer numbers across London.

The new Hounslow team will consist of a Police Inspector, three Sergeants and 21 PC's.

The Inspector is expected to provide leadership of Neighbourhood policing across the borough, with the whole team dedicated to Hounslow town centre and the surrounding area.

It is hoped this will free up other resources to focus across the rest of the Borough.

This comes after a recent announcement by Cressida Dick, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, of an increase in 650 officers across London, to focus on areas of high harm, and to drive down violent crime including domestic abuse and violence against women and girls.

The investment includes 19 new town centre teams across the busiest town centres in the city.

Chief Superintendent Gardner said: "We know that anti-social behaviour, violence and violent crime against women and girls is a concern for everyone and, working side by side with Hounslow council we aim to tackle these issues."

Leader of Hounslow Council, Councillor Steve Curran welcomed the news.

He said: "Ours is a low-crime Borough, but this kind of investment in our Town Centres, with the knock-on it has for policing across the Borough, can only enhance security for our businesses and make residents feel ever more secure in our Town Centres.

"This is very welcome investment in the safety of Hounslow's businesses and residents."