Kingston town centre will be getting 25 more police officers by the end of the year, the Met have announced.

The new town centre patrol team will include one Inspector, three sergeants and 21 police constables and be in action from December 2021.

It comes as part of a drive by the Met to crack down on crime in the capital's busiest areas, particularly places where women and girls feel unsafe.

500 extra police officers are being rolled to 17 boroughs across London where demand for policing is highest.

The new Kingston town centre police officers will patrol in the evenings and other times that have the most impact on public safety.

This year has seen a rise in concerns about crime in Kingston town centre following a series of incidents.

Last August a 22-year-old man died in a fatal stabbing on Clarence Street.

That month a 19-year-old was also taken to hospital after he and another man were beaten up by a gang of 5.

The news also comes amid a crisis in public trust of the police following the death of Sarah Everard at the hands of a serving Met Police officer.

Met Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said: "Our growth enables us to increase our presence in busy neighbourhoods and town centres and be even more focused on protecting people and solving the long-term crime and anti-social behaviour issues we know people care about most – like violent crime, and violence and harassment committed against women and girls.

"Local policing is at the heart of everything we do and we know that we are so much more effective if we are in communities and neighbourhoods, working side-by-side with all Londoners, listening and engaging with them, tackling the issues that make them feel unsafe.

"We want communities to regularly see and get to know their local officers, so that they trust and have confidence in them, knowing they are there to protect and keep them safe."