THE estate is to get two new permanent police officers by the end of the year, in a bid to help residents feel safer.
The council has successfully lobbied the Met Police to station the pair of extra officers in New Addington – increasing the total of fully warranted officers by 50 per cent from four to six.
The new Labour administration made it one of their key election promises for the area, and will part-fund the additional PCs.
Simon Hall, councillor for Fieldway and cabinet member for finance, said the agreement was in place and the paperwork would be rubber-stamped in the next couple of weeks.
He said: "The reason was that overwhelmingly in the area, there are issues around feeling safe and with confidence in the police.
"It is something we made a specific election commitment and something the council is making happen."
Cllr Hall believes it is vital the officers that serve New Addington are familiar with the area.
"The nature of the community is that having local knowledge is even more important in this area," he added.
"Because we are such a distinct community, it is important we have officers who know the area.
"We want to improve the level of confidence in the police and for them to be in the area and talk to people day to day is vital to that process of policing people.
"The police who work in the area do a fine job but it's about getting more of those that have that intense local knowledge – especially with the layout of the estate – and helps with the effectiveness and efficiency of the police.
"I think this will make a real tangible difference in the area."
Marion Burchell, from the New Addington Pathfinders community group, said it was "absolutely brilliant" there would be two more officers on the beat in the area.
"The more policing is visible in the area, the better," she added.
"We are quite a unique estate so it is important that we have people who you can build up a good rapport and trust with."
