The leader of Harrow Council has vowed to fight against any “raw deal” that could come the borough’s way as a result of the planned police merger.

Sachin Shah promised to defend residents’ safety after plans to merge Harrow’s police services with Brent and Barnet were confirmed.

The new Basic Command Unit (BCU) system, which was devised by the Met and the Mayor of London in a bid to cut costs, will see resources spread thinner as police numbers continue to drop.

But Mr Shah assured the people of Harrow that he will push for these plans to be halted in the hope of finding what would be, in his eyes, a more effective option.

“Harrow’s policing needs are not the same as Barnet and Brent, and I will fight any merger that gives Harrow a raw deal,” he said.

“I am calling for a pause in these mergers. Pilot schemes have not worked as intended, with many obvious teething troubles.

“There is every reason for a pause to allow more planning and testing to get these BCUs right, or replace them with another solution.”

If the merger does go ahead as scheduled, it is anticipated that the BCU incorporating Harrow will go live in September.

It will be headed up by Simon Rose, the former borough commander of Barnet.

According to the Met, the new system will enable it to better invest its resources, and address its key priorities, while providing a more effective service in several ways.

Deputy assistant commissioner Mark Simmons, who is leading the transition, said: “BCUs will allow us to put first victims of crime and those people who need us the most.

“Our new structure will also give us the resilience and consistency we need across the whole of London, so we can continue to respond to large scale incidents and meet the financial and operational challenges we are facing.”