New police team launched in Wood Green

A Wood Green police team has been launched.

The new unit consists of one inspector, three sergeants and 21 police constables, who will work exclusively in Wood Green town centre, including the area around Turnpike Lane Station and Duckett’s Common. The team will have the capacity to grow further if deemed necessary by local police leaders.

The unit is one of the first to be rolled out under a new Metropolitan Police initiative to increase police presence and visibility, and is part of a wider strategy to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in the Wood Green area.

The Wood Green police team was launched last month by Haringey Council leader, Peray Ahmet, and the new cabinet member for stronger and safer communities, Erdal Dogan.

The councillors met with residents and police officers last month to officially introduce the police team to the local community, at the London Islamic Cultural Society in Harringay.

In total 500 officers will make up town centre teams across the capital. A further 150 officers will join teams already established in their communities.

According to the Met, decisions about where the teams would be allocated were discussed with local authorities, and were made according to data and intelligence that highlights areas where there is the most policing demand, higher levels of crime, or where confidence in police is low.

North Area BCU (Basic Command Unit) Commander, Chief Superintendent Simon Crick said: “We are increasing our police presence, putting officers where we know the public want to see them most. The new Wood Green team will focus on making this area safer, tackling violent crime, including violence against women and girls and dealing with antisocial behaviour.

“We want communities to regularly see and get to know their local officers, so that they have trust and confidence in them, knowing they are there to help keep them safe.”