Finchley and Golders Green MP, Mike Freer, has successfully campaigned for longer opening hours at the new Golders Green Police Contact Point. The Contact Point will now be open for an additional three hours on Tuesdays between 5pm and 8pm, representing a 25% increase.
Mike Freer has lobbied senior officers in the Barnet Metropolitan Police Service to extend the opening times from 9 hours per week to 12. The move to add additional hours follows a series of discussions which have taken place between Barnet’s senior Police Officers, Mike Freer and local Counsellors.
Commenting on the news, Mike has said “I’m very pleased that I secured the extended opening hours. The Contact Points, coupled with an additional 54 officers on our streets, will help ensure that Barnet remains a safe place to live and work”.
The Contact Point will replace the current manned desk at Golders Green police station when it closes later this year. Although many police station counters are not well visited and tie-up significant numbers of police officers, Mike Freer wanted to be sure residents could speak face-to-face with officers at set times throughout the week. Currently, 80% of crimes are reported by telephone and under the changes being introduced residents will be guaranteed a home visit by a police officer.
The changes come as part of the Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan which has prioritised increasing the number of officers on our streets over retaining under-used police stations.