THE mastermind behind the 'neighbourhood champions' scheme has defended the idea - after it was given the stamp of approval at a cabinet meeting last week.
At the meeting on Thursday, last week, Councillor Susan Hall dismissed claims the proposal was akin to spying and insisted the idea would be a success.
When the programme, which will see 2,000 residents trained and vetted to report anti-social behaviour, was first announced, it was met with some disapproval.
But Councillor Hall, who is responsible for environment services and community safety, said: "This is about people taking pride in their own streets and the areas they live.
"I have personally put an awful lot of work into this and it will be extremely successful.
"We are already one of the safest boroughs in London, but we want to keep it that way.
"It may be an old-fashioned approach but it's not about spying - it is about delivering the best service we can."
She also added that although at first the intention was to recruit 2,000 people she hoped there would be one 'champion' for every street in the borough.
She added: "In total there are 2,065 streets in Harrow and I think it would be fantastic if someone on each street was to sign up to this.
"Obviously, we want to make clear that anyone who signs up to this will be CRB checked.
They will be fully trained to understand what their remit is.
"This won't be people looking through your windows or snooping on you.
"It will be people reporting the very things that residents want to see sorted out, such as litter, graffiti and fly tip-ping.
"I believe that once this is up and running we will have other boroughs knocking on our door, finding out how they can set it up too."
It is thought the training will take no more than two or three hours, but a manual will be given out to address the areas the council hopes will be taken up by the residents.
