New police station set for Muswell Hill

A POLICE base could soon be created in the midst of Muswell Hill s busiest nightspots to provide greater visibility and reassure residents. An application to create a Safer Neighbourhoods base for Muswell Hill and Fortis Green teams on the

Rhiannon Evans

A POLICE base could soon be created in the midst of Muswell Hill's busiest nightspots to provide greater visibility and reassure residents.

An application to create a Safer Neighbourhoods base for Muswell Hill and Fortis Green teams on the Broadway - where the Fine Burger Company used to be - has been submitted.

The teams would move from the Muswell Hill Police Station in Fortis Green.

But police say there are no plans to close the station's front service counter, and that it is still being used by a number of units.

Change of use plans have been submitted to Haringey Council for the Broadway premises and police are in the early stages of discussing a lease.

A police spokeswoman said: "Central to the idea behind SN bases is the principle that they are located in easily accessible places close to the heart of the community which they serve and within - or as close as practicable - to the relevant ward.

"We have identified that these premises would give us the opportunity to have staff working at the heart of Muswell Hill - giving greater visibility and providing reassurance to those who live, work in and travel through the area."

SN chief inspector Jon Williams said: "We are in the very early stages of the process.

"The application has been made for the change of use and I would not like to pre-empt the decision.

"SN bases provide a more flexible approach for the officers and public.

"They provide a central base for SN officers to get changed and briefed prior to going on patrol and can open for prearranged police surgeries and meetings with the public."

Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association chairman John Hajdu said that members were waiting for the development of the plans after several previous attempts to create a base in the centre of the area had failed.

"A centrally situated venue is a very good idea," he said.

"However, we do have reservations.

He said the association would prefer for Alexandra ward's SN team to move in as well and want assurances that the cost of the move will not be exorbitant.

The association will also be looking for a pledge that the move will not result in the front desk closure or meeting facilities at the Fortis Green station.

"We are awaiting development and looking forward to consulting with the police," he said.