EXTRA police patrols across problem estates are to take place after two men were cleared of murder.

Greenwich police borough commander Chief Superintendent Christopher Jarratt announced the move following a trial held in connection with the killing of Abdala Jama.

The 20-year-old was shot in the stomach during a stand-off between two groups of young Somalians in Barnfield Road, Woolwich, on July 14 last year.

Musa Ibrahim, aged 25, admitted holding the gun but claimed he fired by mistake and was cleared of murder and manslaughter at the Old Bailey on July 24.

Ali Gulaid, aged 22, who allegedly passed him the gun, was cleared of the same charges.

Prosecutors had claimed the shooting of Mr Jama was part of a feud between his older brother Ahmed and Mr Ibrahim and Mr Gulaid over a Mercedes car.

Mr Ibrahim claimed he found a gun lying on the ground and picked it up, fearing he might be attacked, but did not deliberately fire it.

And Mr Gulaid said he was being attacked by the Jama brothers and their friends and did not see the shooting.

Abdala Jama died at theQueen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich, from a single gunshot wound.

Mr Ibrahim, of Fishermans Walk, Thamesmead, and Mr Gulaid, of St Margaret's Terrace, Woolwich, both denied murder and manslaughter.

Speaking after the trial, Mr Jarratt said: "We need to increase reassurance in the community."

Safer neighbourhoods teams will be spending extra hours patrolling the Barnfield estate, the Connaught estate, Woolwich, Woolwich Common and the Glyndon estate, Plumstead.

The level of policing is expected to be reviewed again on Saturday.

Mr Jarratt says all residents should be reassured, including Somali communities.

He said: "There's a distinct Somalian community in this borough and the vast majority are law abiding and support police.

"But with any community there'll be a criminal element involved."