EALING Council's leader is calling for a police base at a notorious underpass where a man was killed.

Town hall chief Jason Stacey wants to see the Greenford Green Safer Neighbourhood Team set up at Greenford Roundabout and residents have applauded the idea.

It follows the death of Ian Newtion, known as Scoobie Santino, who was slashed in the neck with a broken bottle last Sunday.

Mr Stacey, who is also ward councillor for the area, said: "Greenford Roundabout under-pass is unpleasant at the best of times. Residents hate using it but they don't really have a choice.

"The middle of the underpass is quite a wide, open space. A police presence, even just a hut, would make people feel safer and mean a SNT based in our ward. When SNTs were first introduced we were promised a base in every ward, now they say they can't afford that.

"Greenford Green stretches right up to Oldfield Circus which has been defined as a hotspot area. It stands to reason the further they have to travel the less time they can spend walking about in the ward."

Residents agree, Malcolm Ede, of Farndale Crescent, said: "It's so intimidating people jump the barriers and put their lives at risk on the busy roads rather than go down it.

"I raised it with the council at a forum meeting about nine months ago, but nothing was done.

"Basing police there is a great idea, it would definitely make people more confident, as it's been a problem ever since it was built back in about 1975."

But police point out that, before Mr Newtion's death, two robberies were the only crimes reported there since 2007.

Superintendent Ian Jenkins, of Ealing Police, said: "There are no plans for an additional SNT base at the roundabout as their current base at Greenford Police Station is only located half a mile away.

"The first SNTs were introduced five years ago in three wards, now Ealing has SNTs in all 23 wards which makes it one of the largest boroughs in the Met."

A council spokeswoman added: "We're working in part-nership with the Metropolitan Police and Transport for London to explore a number of options, including the installation of CCTV cameras, to make the under-pass safer.

"Our officers have visited the site to carry out an inspection to determine which types of cameras could be used for surveillance."