Controversial moves to axe senior borough policemen have prompted a second community to petition to save their sergeant.

Residents in the Addison ward are outraged at the prospect of losing Sergeant Shane Joshua as part of the streamlining that will see four Hammersmith and Fulham sergeants axed.

Last month, residents in West Kensington rallied to try and stop their Sergeant, Ian Gordon, going due to the merger of police resources between the North End and Fulham Reach wards.

And anger at the cuts has now spread after it was revealed Sgt Joshua will leave in wake of the decision to combine Addison and Avonmore with Brook Green.

Sgt Joshua is credited with helping reduce crime in the ward by nearly 40 per cent since March and slashing the number of burglaries.

He also played a pivotal role in reassuring the community after the murder of 27-year-old Randy Osei-Boateng in Lakeside Road in March, holding a specially convened meeting to listen and respond to neighbours' fears.

Brook Green resident Tracy Hannigan has urged residents to sign the petition online. In it she writes: "Addison Ward is one of the most densely populated wards in the borough, bordering the densely populated Avonmore and Brook Green.

"The Addison community wants stable policing and we feel that the sergeant’s policing leadership, local experience and commitment to our neighbourhood has been and is critical to fighting crime and increasing community cohesion."

She adds: "Additionally, for most of the sergeant’s term, the SNT was operating at half strength, with one sergeant, one PC and one PCSO. The team has been at full strength for one month. It has three new members, one brand new PC and two PCSOs. The new team need time to settle into the ward under experienced leadership."

Sgt Joshua has also been praised for his commitment to communicating openly with residents and taking swift action after drug and vehicle crime spikes.

Borough commander told the Chronicle last month that an open selection process was used in which all sergeants were invited to reapply for their jobs.

Hammersmith and Fulham council says frontline officer numbers havew actually increased despite the cuts.

To sign the petition visit: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-our-addison-ward-sergeant.html