THIS is the new blueprint for neighbourhood policing in Oxford.

The city’s 22 neighbourhood police teams are set to merge to form just seven larger units in a bid to provide more round-the-clock cover.

No posts will be lost in the shake-up, but residents have concerns about the planned changes.

Police bosses think that the current teams are too small and are not visible enough to the communities they serve.

The seven new areas have been provisionally dubbed Oxford North, Oxford Central, Oxford North East, Oxford Barton / Risinghurst, Oxford East, Oxford Cowley and Oxford South East, but a police spokesman said that the exact boundaries and names could be subject to change before the new system’s introduction in October.

Chief Constable Sara Thornton told a meeting of Oxfordshire County Council’s safer and stronger communities scrutiny committee on Monday that the plans were on hold until after the Olympics so changes could be smoothly made to shift patterns.

Oxford’s area commander, Acting Supt Chris Sharp said the changes would strengthen policing in Oxford.

He said: “It’s not about cuts.

“In Oxford we currently have 22 neighbourhoods and as a result we have some small teams and when those teams are on rest days or courses there can be gaps, so it’s about spreading the teams out.

“But it will be the same number of teams and the same number of PCSOs, and they will still be working from the same offices.

“It gives us a better chance to provide a better service and a more timely service.”

But Terry Kirkland, who lives in Rose Hill and is a member of the estate’s Neighbourhood Action Group (Nag), said he was worried about the shake-up.

Rose Hill would merge with Iffley, Littlemore, Greater Leys and Blackbird Leys to become Oxford South East.

Mr Kirkland said: “My fear for a merger would be that somewhere like Blackbird Leys is two or three times larger than Rose Hill.

“In Rose Hill the community is extremely well-served by police and police community support officers (PCSOs).

“My feeling is that we would probably find ourselves meeting in Blackbird Leys as a Nag and the priority would be given to them because of numbers.

“We would be on the periphery.”

Richard Bryant, who attends Wood Farm Nag meetings on behalf of the Wood Farm Youth Centre, said: “I would be a bit critical of the change because I think you will lose some of the local involvement.

“I think the police presence has been more consistent and people have got to know the police officers and the support officers.”