THIS is my last week at Harrow Borough and I must admit that as I write this blog I have mixed feelings – on the one hand I think I will be leaving the best job in the world, while on the other hand I am looking forward to being able to spend more time with my two beautiful daughters, Shanti and Suraiya.

The nature of policing has meant that I have missed numerous birthdays and family outings over the years and I am looking forward to leading a more normal life, cycling, working on my allotment and following The Arsenal.

When I joined the police service on my first day, like all new officers, I was asked to write down what my ambitions were. I remember writing that my mother was very proud of me and that I hoped one day to become a Metropolitan police sergeant.

I have been very fortunate and leave the Met as a chief superintendent and the borough commander of Harrow – the most religiously diverse borough in the UK.

I have had a very close working relationship with Harrow Council’s chief executive Mike Lockwood and other partners, which has contributed to a reduction in crime on the borough.

I have had some interesting challenges on my watch including the stabbing of four Harrow police officers in Kingsbury in November 2011 and the demonstrations by the English Defence League in Harrow in 2009.

I have also been privileged to be borough commander of Harrow during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics and I am really proud of the work that has gone into helping to set up the Mothers Against Gangs support group.

Policing is not a job that you can do half-heartedly and I have enjoyed giving 100 per cent and playing my small part in helping keep our great capital safe.

Inspector Andy Jackson, despite the horrific injuries he suffered on duty, has continued to be a hard working valuable member of the Metropolitan Police Service and I was very pleased to be able to present him with a Borough Commander’s Award this week.

Insp Jackson suffered life-threatening injuries to his neck and back after a police car he and two colleagues were travelling in overturned while responding to a 999 call in January 2010.

I would like to pay tribute to the brave men and women from Harrow police who do an extraordinary job helping to reduce crime in Harrow. All the roles are valuable, be it uniform, CID, police staff, volunteers or special constables.

The communities in Harrow are phenomenal people who live, work and play with high levels of tolerance.

I have had the pleasure of going on patrol with PC Alex Flaherty from E Team on a number of occasions and each time it has been a rewarding and eye-opening experience.

On one occasion we climbed on to a roof to try and persuade a man with mental health problems to come down.

PC Flaherty is a big, strapping lad but on this occasion he used his superb interpersonal skills to engage with this man in order that he could be safely taken to a local hospital.

The characteristics displayed by PC Flaherty epitomise Harrow Police and he is my officer of the week.

During the Met Police Widows’ Christmas party last December, I was approached by a Mrs Tanner asking for my help after her late husband’s OBE medal had been stolen during a burglary in Hertfordshire. I wrote to St James’s Palace and am delighted to say that a replacement medal will be with Mrs Tanner very shortly.

I am enormously proud of the crime reduction we have achieved at Harrow over the last few years and I now hand over the baton to Acting Chief Superintendent Neil Wilson until the new borough commander, Simon Ovens takes over the role permanently.

I would like to wish all the people who live and work in Harrow a great future and, stay safe.