THE new boss in charge of Haringey's community policing teams has said she is happy to bring a women's touch to the role.

Chief Inspector Sonia Davis will now oversee the borough's 19 Safer Neighbourhoods Teams (SNTs) which work alongside the community to tackle specific issues in each ward.

She brings nearly 20 years of experience to the new post, particularly her work in Tower Hamlets where she managed the counter terrorism office.

Chief Inspector Davis is now Haringey's most senior ranking female officer, which she said was a "fantastic achievement" for diversity.

She said: "It is really important that the diversity of the force is reflected across all the posts from officers on the street to senior management.

"My style of leadership could be seen as different from a man's. Women have got that intuition. We're good at reading people, we like to communicate which I think are good qualities.

"It has got me this far and has worked for me, so I don't see myself changing. I expect people to do a good job."

The officer first worked as a sergeant in Haringey in 2001, before moving to the Mounted Branch, the Me's team who work on horseback to police events like protests or football matches including White Hart Lane.

Just days into the new role, the senior officer said she hoped to build on the legacy left by her predecessor Chief Inspector Jon Williams.

She said her main goal was to simply make people feel safer and reduce the fear of crime.

The passionate policewoman said: "When I'm not in my uniform, I'm a woman like any other, and have been intimidated at times. I found that in Haringey a few years ago. Since then, so much has changed for the better.

"I want people to know that Haringey is a great place to live and work. I've already said to my husband that we need to come down to Wood Green to do some of our shopping. It looks fantastic."

She added: "I have a very hard act to follow in Jon Williams , but I am determined to maintain and, possibly, improve the partnerships that he forged across the borough and beyond."

In Haringey, there are 19 SNTs corresponding to the borough's 19 wards. Each team — made up of roughly one sergeant, two PCs and three PCSOs — works alongside the community to set and address top three issues of concern.

In Harringay, the SNT is working to combat speeding motorists, burglary and fly-tipping.

Drud dealing and using, car theft and robbery are priorities in Tottenham Green.

In Haringey, five teams are additionally involved in an initiative to reduce crime on housing estates identified by the Met Police as suffering high levels of anti-social behaviour.

Estates identified were Tiverton Estate, in Seven Sisters, Rothsbury Walk, in Northumberland Park, Milton Road, in West Green, Ida Road, in St Ann's and Ferry Lane, in Tottenham Hale.