DAFT police have told families terrorised by drug-crazed gangs to play classical music to drive them away, The Sun can reveal.
The barmy advice was given after junkies smashed car windows and even threatened to shoot and chop up one resident.
But an officer said tunes by composers such as Brahms would help stop thugs in St John’s Wood, North West London.
One former senior cop last night labelled the tactic “completely bonkers”.
Locals have been terrorised by junkie street gangs for months, with many having car windows smashed.
One family saw junkies shooting up and burning crack cocaine on the doorstep of their £3million house.
Another resident said a dealer even threatened to have him “shot and chopped up” after he confronted her during a daylight drop-off in leafy St John’s Wood, North West London.
He sent pictures of offences to the police but was told to play classical music such as Mozart or Bach because it “prevents crime”.
The louts have run amok close to where the Fab Four recorded their 1969 album Abbey Road — with the iconic cover pic of the Get Back stars crossing a zebra crossing outside.
In the email from a Met PC, the local is told to call 999 if he sees any suspects, and to keep filming them if safe to do so.
But the officer then says: “You can also contact your housing association/the council and ask them to play classical music as this has proven to deter and prevent crimes.”
Astonishingly, she then warns him not to play it too loudly “as that can cause other complaints”.
The businessman, in his 50s, told The Sun: “Are the police on another planet?
“It’s crazy that they thought this would solve the problem.”
He added 22 residents have complained, with nearly 20 cars broken into.
A woman confronted by a junkie in her garden said: “Telling us to play classical music is just stupid.”
Ex-Sussex Det Chief Supt Kevin Moore blasted: “It’s completely bonkers.
“I have never heard anything so ridiculous.”
The Met Police said: “While clearly well intentioned, the advice in the email sent to the resident in this case doesn’t reflect Met policy.”
