New partnership said to have helped slash crime rates in the area since launching in December 2023

A mobile police unit Finsbury Park (credit Met Police)

A partnership between police forces and local councils has said it has “significantly reduced” violent crime in Finsbury Park since being launched over a year ago.

The ‘Love Finsbury Park’ coalition, which includes Haringey Council and the Metropolitan Police among others, has been working to tackle violent crime, robbery and burglary in the area since December 2023.

Neighbouring Islington and Hackney councils, plus British Transport Police (BTP), are also involved in the project.

During the year, officers from the Met and BTP say they made over 600 arrests as the number of police patrols in the area was significantly increased.

The group now reports that business burglaries are down 27%, residential burglaries 24%, personal robbery 21%
and violent crime with Injury is down 14%.

Police officers have seized a significant number of weapons, stolen phones and drugs, as well as locating individuals in the area who were wanted on warrant for previous offences.

Inspector Ross Hickman, one of the senior officers policing Finsbury Park, explained: “A policing framework called ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ is being used to deliver positive outcomes as part of Love Finsbury Park. The ‘clear’ phase involves targeted arrests and crime disruption through partnership working. Accordingly, much of the Met’s focus has been on identifying and arresting those involved in organised crime, the vast majority relating to the supply of drugs.

“Since December 2023, a total of 17 search warrants were executed at addresses in the Finsbury Park area in intelligence-led operations targeting organised crime. Further operations are being planned as we continue to work at pace in the ‘clear’ phase of this framework.

“I am looking forward to moving on with the project, and into the next phases. ‘Hold’ means stabilising the area to stop offenders moving in to fill the void. The ‘build’ phase is focused on community-driven action to address the causes of criminality and prevent it from happening again.

“Our work with partners, including the London boroughs of Hackney, Haringey and Islington, will become increasingly crucial. Joint action – like our recent success in securing funding to improve lighting under the bridge in Stroud Green Road – is central to the success of Love Finsbury Park.”

Ajda Ovat, Haringey Council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “It’s fantastic to see the success that the ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ project is having in tackling serious and organised crime in the Finsbury Park area.

“As the scheme progresses and moves from stage to stage, it remains fundamentally important that community groups, residents and stakeholders continue to engage with our police partners and council staff from Haringey, Hackney and Islington as part of a tri-borough approach.

“That way, we can continue to create a far safer Finsbury Park for residents and visitors to experience and enjoy.”

The first police operation tackling organised crime took place on the very first day of the project, in December 2023. 70 officers executed three search warrants on shops in Blackstock Road which were believed to be linked to criminal activity in which seven people were arrested.

A co-ordinated police operation also took place on 12th December 2024 and led to the recovery of 112,000 tablets of Pregabalin, a Class C drug), dozens of wraps of cocaine, £3,000 in cash and several Rolex watches. One man was arrested at an address in Sotheby Road and seven people were arrested nearby.

Anyone with information about those involved in the supply of drugs, burglary or robbery in the Finsbury Park area is urged to speak with local officers, call police on 101, message @MetCC or share what they know anonymously with Crimestoppers.

BTP chief Inspector Cheryl Ling, who oversees Finsbury Park, added: “I’m extremely pleased with what we’ve been able to achieve so far with the significant reduction in violent crime, but there is still plenty of work to do to keep those numbers down.

“We will continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police and our other policing and local partners to deter crime, and we are determined to make our communities and the railway network safer for everyone.”

Inspector Hickman concluded: “My colleagues are focused on continuing to deliver results. I am pleased to see these much improved crime statistics, but I want to hear local people saying that they actually feel safer. That’s a real incentive for us to come to work every day to protect the public, deter or arrest those who want to profit from criminal activity and build on this successful first year.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, or one-off donation.