Lib Dems oppose police counter closure

Haringey Liberal Democrats have written to the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to oppose Sadiq Khan’s move to close Haringey’s last public facing police counter. This breaks a previous Labour pledge to retain at least one 24/7 front counter in every London borough.

Despite that pledge, the Mayor is proposing retaining only eight 24/7 counters across the capital (compared with 32 boroughs), with eleven counters seeing reduced hours and thirteen closing completely. The counter in Tottenham, Haringey’s last, is due to be closed.

The proposed closure comes despite increased worries about crime from residents, with particular concern around crimes such as shoplifting, thefts of and from vehicles and phone snatching. A reduction in visible police presence could easily see the prevalence of these crimes increase, as potential thieves feel an increased sense of impunity - a point made in the letter from the Haringey Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Nick da Costa (LD-Highgate), Opposition Spokesperson for Crime & Communities on Haringey Council, said:
“Labour’s decision to reduce our visible police presence at this time of increased concern about crime is totally unacceptable. Residents will find this move from Sadiq Khan completely incomprehensible, and I find it difficult to disagree. If Labour are to retain the trust of our community then they must get serious about tackling crime."