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23.3.07
Haringey Liberal Democrats have expressed concern following the publication of new research showing only two out of the five Haringey police stations answer phone calls.
The research was carried out by Liberal Democrat London Assembly members between 26th February and 17th March 2007. It showed that only Hornsey and Tottenham stations answered calls when tested.
Liberal Democrats have welcomed the fact that Haringey's response rate is above that of the London average. However the actual time taken to answer non-emergency calls at the two police stations contacted was significantly higher than the London average – 3 minutes 20 seconds compared with 20 seconds London-wide.
The research shows that 46% (65 out of 141) of police stations in London do not answer the phone for non-emergency enquiries. The research follows a similar survey carried out in 2003 by Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone whilst she was a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority.
Cllr Ron Aitken, Lib Dem Crime spokesperson comments:
"It is imperative that police stations can be contacted in order for the public to report non-emergency crimes. If the public are faced with silence at the end of the line then confidence decreases and intelligence may be lost. These figures really do need to be improved."
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