A public watchdog, which gave Kingston residents a voice on policing in the borough for more than 30 years, has been scrapped in favour of new model introduced by London mayor Boris Johnson.

The Kingston Community and Police Partnership (KCPP) has been replaced by the Kingston Safer Neighbourhood Board (SNB) made up of 22 board members.

The KCPP had opposed the move, amid concerns about funding, and helped develop the structure of the SNBs along with Kingston Council and Kingston police.

KCPP chairman John Azah said he was confident the new board structure would represent the community.

But he said: "It is unfortunate we have to introduce a new mechanism just for the sake of it since Kingston has always successfully worked with the police to keep it the safest borough in London, and as a place people want to come and shop and have fun."

Previous KCPP chair Sandra Flower and administrator Linda Chesters – whose last act before being made redundant was to organise the SNB launch event on April 2, have stepped down.

Kingston’s borough commander Glenn Tunstall said: "I have emphasised how I see the police as part of the community and I believe that through the new board and the enhanced levels of engagement and accountability we will be able to demonstrate that."