Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, has scored a policing victory for Highgate as one of her longest running campaigns came nearer to fruition this week with Haringey’s Police Borough Commander agreeing to moving the Highgate Safer Neighbourhood team from Muswell Hill to Highgate itself.

The Chief Superintendent’s willingness to station the Highgate team in a local base represents a significant victory for the residents of Highgate and for Ms. Featherstone, former member of the Metropolitan Police Authority and long-time champion of local policing.

The next stage, on which the move rests, is now to identify suitable premises and to get the final green light from the Metropolitan Police’s estate department.

“As commanders have come and gone I have kept asking the same question for Highgate and up until now I’ve always had a negative response – one even said over my dead body – but persistence is in my nature.

“I know from knocking on doors and meeting people that what they want are local police officers who know their patch and who are stationed in and amongst the community they are looking after.

“Obviously, there are a few final hurdles and I’ve already asked our Highgate Councillors to keep their eyes out for any suitable premises, but this is a real policing victory for Highgate.”