During a meeting at New Scotland Yard last week, MP Theresa Villiers has urged the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner to prioritise burglaries and save Barnet police station.
Theresa joined other Conservative MPs on Thursday for the visit to see Sir Mark Rowley and his deputy, Dame Lynne Owens.
Sir Mark outlined his approach to tackling the problems at the Met which led His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to put London's police service into ‘special measures’.
Theresa urged Sir Mark to ensure that the Met take burglary more seriously. She highlighted the distress this crime causes. He has publicly acknowledged that more needs to be done on this and has confirmed an officer will now attend every reported burglary.
“This was a positive meeting with a new commissioner who was happy to listen and who outlined welcome changes to policing in the capital,” said Theresa.
“During the discussion, I urged Sir Mark to save Barnet Police Station – an issue that has popular support across the area and is one on which I continue to campaign.
“While he wasn't able to promise a reprieve for the station, Sir Mark did acknowledge the importance of local police teams having a base from which to operate close to the neighbourhoods they have responsibility for.
“I welcome this and I will keep making the case for the station to remain in police use so we can have a reassuring and visible police presence based in the heart of our high street and our communities.”
Theresa and her colleagues thanked the Met for their work on the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth after Sir Mark and Dame Lynne briefed them on what was one of the biggest police operations in history.
