A reason to keep quiet in Merton

Noise patrols could be dispatched across Merton in a bid to support residents whose lives are made hell by noise.

Last year, Conservative Councillor Suzanne Evans suggested that the cross-party Overview and Scrutiny Commission should investigate what she described as a "hopelessly inadequate out-of-hours noise patrol service."

However following reports of anti-social noises, the commission agreed have recommended that a service should be introduced.

Councillor Evans says: "Noise nuisance caused by selfish neighbours and businesses is a serious and growing problem in Merton."

"Complaints have risen 45% since 2009 - to 2,467 in the last year - yet at present we only have an all-year-round out-of-hours enforcement team on duty on Saturday nights."

"Moving towards a 24/7 out-of-hours service will be of enormous comfort for all those who suffer noise nuisance and send a strong message to perpetrators that their behaviour will not be tolerated."