Every London neighbourhood now has at least two dedicated PCs and a dedicated community support officer.

Until last year, most wards had one PC and one PCSO - but since them 529 new dedicated ward officers have been appointed.

The new “eyes and ears” ward officers are “drawn from existing non-dedicated neighbourhood roles,” but will not be taken off community work for other duties.

Mr Khan says the Met are facing a “funding crisis” and has taken “difficult decisions” to protect frontline services, such as making arrangements to close all police counters in the borough bar one in an effort to save £8 million per year.

Mr Khan said: “At a time when the Met is dealing with unprecedented pressures due to the government’s huge funding cuts and the shift in the threat of terrorism, neighbourhood policing is more important than ever.”