Go to Cholmeley Crescent Neighbourhood Watch to talk about my work on the Met Police Authority and local crime issues. It’s a model of perfection where the individuals involved are really good citizens and nice people. Yes – the problems in Highgate don’t rate on the Richter scale vis a vis Tottenham – but their problems also need addressing.

Local beat officer Martin Rogerson is there to present local crime statistics and what he is up to. What a star. Single-handed (and sadly in Highgate there is only one) he has through his local knowledge targeted known perpetrators (mostly of car crime) and had staggering reductions of 40% of this and 70% of that.

Glad to see that what I have always banged on about is actually bring home the bacon in real results when tried out. Local knowledge is the best intelligence you can have. At least Sir John Stevens (Met Police Commissioner) has got the message on this and put in motion ‘Step Change’ – a program of local policing which will see six police personnel (mixture of police officers and Community Support Officers) tied to a ward and ringfenced.

This is now being tested in three wards per borough across London. Great idea! Know it will work – but sadly no foreseeable budget to roll it out across London unless Gordon Brown can be persuaded to loosen his grip on the purse strings! Fat chance.