A collaborative effort between local authorities, police, and partner organizations has led to a significant reduction in violent crime, robbery, and burglary in the Finsbury Park

area over the past year.

Love Finsbury Park: a community-driven initiative

Launched on December 6, 2023, Love Finsbury Park is a joint initiative between the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police, and three local councils. The goal: to make Finsbury Park safer through coordinated law enforcement and community involvement.

The impact has been remarkable, with significant crime reductions:

Business Burglary – Down 27%

Residential Burglary – Down 24%

Personal Robbery – Down 21%

Violent Crime with Injury – Down 14%

A year of action and arrests

Increased police patrols and targeted operations have resulted in over 600 arrests, the seizure of numerous weapons, stolen phones, and drugs, and the capture of individuals wanted on previous warrants.

Inspector Ross Hickman, a senior officer involved in policing the area, highlighted the success of the Clear, Hold, Build strategy.

Clear Phase: Focused on identifying and arresting organized criminals, particularly those involved in drug-related activities. Since December 2023, 17 intelligence-led search warrants have been executed across Finsbury Park, with more planned.

Hold Phase: Aims to stabilize the area, preventing new offenders from taking over.

Build Phase: Encourages long-term community engagement to address crime at its roots.

"Our partnerships with Hackney, Haringey, and Islington councils are critical to sustaining these improvements," Hickman said. "A recent success was securing funding to enhance lighting under the Stroud Green Road bridge, improving safety for residents."

Local leaders support the initiative

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 ‘Clear Hold Build’ 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 on Stroud Green Road – is central to the success of Love Finsbury Park.”

Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney, said: “We’re already seeing positive results. Love Finsbury Park is building long-term improvements to community safety by driving out crime and tackling the issues that make residents feel unsafe.

“Alongside the police interventions, we’ve been working with residents, local councillors, businesses and partners to understand and address these local concerns. During this first phase, we have increased our enforcement patrols and CCTV surveillance, and created campaigns calling out street-based harassment like catcalling. We’ll continue building on our progress as we move into the next phases focused on preventative actions.”

Cllr Angelo Weekes, Executive Member for Community Safety at Islington Council said: “Islington has supported the police’s targeted operations and arrests as we take action to protect our residents and ensure their safety. We meet weekly with the police, sharing intelligence and CCTV footage and work together to engage with businesses, colleges and places of worship in Finsbury Park.

“We commission a patrol service to detect, deter and disrupt anti-social behaviour in Finsbury Park station, Blackstock Road and certain estates. We know there is more work to be done and look forward to continuing to work together to make Finsbury Park safer and more welcoming for everyone.”

Haringey Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Ajda Ovat, commented: “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.”

Major police operations and seizures

From the very first day of the initiative, police have conducted high-impact raids.

December 2023: 70 officers executed search warrants at three Blackstock Road businesses suspected of criminal activity, leading to seven arrests.

December 12, 2024: A coordinated operation resulted in the seizure of 112,000 Pregabalin tablets (Class C drug), dozens of cocaine wraps, £3,000 in cash, and several Rolex watches. Eight men were arrested following swift follow-up investigations.

A call to action for the community

Police urge residents to report any criminal activity related to drugs, burglary, or robbery. Anyone with information can contact local officers, call 101, message @MetCC, or report anonymously through Crimestoppers.

British Transport Police Chief Inspector Cheryl Ling commended the initiative’s impact:
"We’ve seen a significant drop in violent crime, but we won’t stop here. We remain committed to making our communities and the railway network safer for everyone."

Inspector Hickman concluded with a clear message:
"We’re proud of the progress made, but the real success will be when local residents tell us they feel safer. That’s what drives us every day—to protect the public, disrupt criminal networks, and build on the achievements of this first year." Photo by Stephen McKay, Wikimedia commons.