Patrols around Wandle Park have started and CCTV cameras will be installed to make locals, particularly women, feel safer as they fear rising crime.

Merton Council has now been working with the police on plans to “design out crime” in the park – which is a popular dog walking spot, as well as a short cut for pedestrians and cyclists.

Patrols around the Colliers Wood park by a new park ranger service have already begun, with the aim of reassuring people using the park and deterring anti-social behaviour.

In May, two new CCTV cameras at some of the entrance points to the park will be installed.

They will join cameras already in place at the Baltic Close and Merton High Street entrances which are monitored 24/7.

Trinity ward councillor Paul Kohler, which part of the park falls into, welcomed it as a first step, though he thinks more could be done to increase safety.

He said: “I’ve had correspondence, particularly from women feeling unsafe in Wandle Park. I don’t think anyone feels safe walking through it at night, some parts of it are pitch black.”

Cllr Kohler added that some locals are calling for more lights in the park and wants to see consultation with locals on the issue.

In January, the council’s cabinet member for partnerships, community safety and tackling crime, Councillor Agatha Akyigyina, said: “We understand residents’ concerns about walking through Wandle Park, particularly on dark winter evenings.

“While simply installing street lights in the park may seem to some a good solution, others think it could lead to would be perpetrators of crime hiding in the shadows. This is why we want to do a more thorough assessment of the options available to design out crime and help people to feel safer while they are in the park.”

The safety improvements were included in a council report on the safety of women and girls in Merton discussed at a cabinet meeting on March 22.

At the meeting, leader of the council Mark Allison said: “The safety of women and girls is not just a women’s issue it is very much an issue for all of us and I’m very glad this council takes it seriously.”