While Barnet Council’s ruling administration say their policies have cut crime in the borough, opposition Conservatives accuse them of “pure spin” reports David Floyd

The entrance to Hendon Town Hall — Hendon Town Hall

Barnet Labour has hailed a drop in crime as a vindication of its policies in the borough.

Barnet Council’s ruling group says falling crime, both in Barnet and across Greater London, show action it has taken since coming to power in the borough in 2022 is working.

They say measures such as revamping the borough’s CCTV system, introducing a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) and working with the police on “a range of initiatives” have helped to bring about a 35 per cent decrease in mugging in the borough shown in the latest annual figures, alongside reductions in other forms of violent crime, while across London homicides are now at their lowest level since reporting began.

The council’s cabinet member for community safety, community cohesion and ending violence against women & girls, Sara Conway, said: “Barnet Labour have brought drive and determination to our local safety partnership fixing a CCTV system that the Conservatives failed to keep working most of the time, introducing the PSPO and supporting the Metropolitan Police on a range of crime reduction operations across the borough including initiatives such as Clear Hold Build that saw more than 300 arrests.

“There is always more to do to bring down crime further, which is why we cannot go back to the days of the previous Conservative administration who didn’t understand or deliver on community safety.”

Barnet Conservatives rejected these claims, telling Barnet Post that Labour was attempting to “dress up crime statistics” in order to “distract residents from the reality that they face”.

A spokesperson said: “Barnet residents know that crime on our roads and high streets is rising. Rather than addressing these concerns honestly, Barnet Labour continues to rely on selective messaging that fails to reflect what communities are seeing day to day.

“Several key crime categories affecting residents have increased, including higher levels of hate crime, rising violence and sexual offences, a growth in possession of weapons offences and a sharp increase in drug related crime.”

They added: “Barnet residents deserve transparency and seriousness when it comes to public safety, not political spin. It is particularly troubling that while Labour seeks to present itself as the party of law and order, one of Barnet’s Labour MPs is proposing measures that would remove the right to a jury trial, the Mayor of London has cut the Met Police’s dedicated antisocial behaviour unit, and former Labour councillors in Barnet have been exposed for fraudulent or criminal conduct.

“Barnet Conservatives will continue to stand up for residents, hold Labour to account and press for a genuine, tough and effective approach to tackling crime and keeping our communities safe.

“Barnet Conservatives reject the Labour approach to crime which is pure spin.”

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