The building itself, in the High Street, is also earmarked for closure, but no decision on its future will be made until a new base has been found within High Barnet for the police team of safer neighbourhood officers.
Comments or objections to the town’s loss of face-to-face contact at the police station can be made online or in writing to the Mayor’s office for policing and crime. The deadline is October 6.
Local residents had a chance to make their views known in person at a public meeting in Hendon Town Hall in early September (11.9.2017).
Meetings are being held this month in every London borough.
...public are able to access the Met Police services from smartphones, tablets and computers
Around half of the 73 police station front counters across London are said to be “costly and underused”, and if they were closed this would save £10 million a year.
Mr Khan says there are better ways to contact the Metropolitan Police online, and closing underused front desks would protect the front line from cuts.
“Doing this would help meet growing public demand to be able to access the Met Police services from smartphones, tablets and computers, whilst saving £10 million that could be spent instead on front line policing.”
At present the front counter at High Barnet police station is only open from 12pm to 8pm, Monday to Friday. A 24-hour, seven-day a week counter service is available at Colindale police station in Graham Park Way.
Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, is challenging the Mayor’s decision, insisting that High Barnet residents do wish to be able to speak face-to-face to local police officers.
So far, no decision has been made about the future use of the police station building and this will depend plans for the future base for High Barnet’s team of safer neighbourhood officers.
The Metropolitan Police recognise they will need a presence in the eastern half of the borough for the safer neighbourhood team.
A new base must be within the High Barnet ward or no more than a 15-minute walk away from its boundary.
A final decision might depend on future co-operation on neighbourhood policing with the borough council.
Further information on the Mayor’s strategy can be found at:
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/public_acess_strategy.pdf
and
www.London.gov.uk/public-access
Comments can be made on line at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or in writing to the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime at City Hall.
