This follows a letter sent to Sir Mark Rowley, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and Shabana Mahmood MP, the Home Secretary, signed by Cllr Ergin Erbil, the leader of Enfield Council and MPs.The letter restated our thanks to the Metropolitan Police for the work they have done with Enfield Council on Clear-Hold-Build operations in Edmonton. It also asked the Met to re-examine their decision to close the front desk at Edmonton Police Station.Cllr Ergin Erbil, the leader of Enfield Council said “Under the leadership of the Labour government and the Labour Mayor of London, Enfield’s Labour run-council have worked hard to cut crime in Enfield and build a safer Enfield. This is directly because of more funding and greater support from central government.We’re really proud of the work we have done with the police recently. Operation Pisces in Edmonton led to over 800 arrests as part of a Clear-Hold-Build project. We’ve also worked with the police and council officers on our Weekend Park Patrols, which led to a reduction in antisocial behaviour and crime across our parks. We are also proud of the work we’re doing to improve security on our council estates through our patrols and joint efforts with the police.
Fourteen years of Tory cuts to police budgets and to the number of police on our streets left Labour with a massive job to do, to take back control of our streets. The Tories neglected our neighbourhoods in Enfield North, Edmonton, and Southgate.
We have frequently met with senior Met Police reps and have sent numerous letters to the Met Police asking that they review the Front Counter arrangements in Enfield.
In communities where trust in institutions is already stretched, the closure of front counters can easily be seen as a step back. That perception risks undoing the progress we’ve made in building better community and Police relationships. I’m also concerned about the knock-on effects to other local services like youth justice, probation, and victim support that rely on the Police being physically present and accessible in the borough.
Enfield Labour’s community safety survey shows strong support for Police Hubs, and Police closer to the communities they serve. In light of this, we are calling for
A clear commitment to keeping the front counter open and to more face-to-face police services.
A faster rollout of Police Hubs, co-designed with local communities and located where they’re most needed. We’re championing one in Edmonton and would welcome a visit from the Met Police senior leadership when it launches.
Access to borough-level data on front counter use and digital exclusion, so councils can plan appropriate support.
A consultation process involving councils, community safety partners, youth justice, probation, victim support services, and local residents before final decisions are made”
