Robbery in Barnet has risen more than 50 per cent over the past year, official figures have shown.

Figures released yesterday by the Metropolitan Police have shown that robbery in the borough has risen by 53 per cent from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.

This was higher than the London-wide figure, which rose by 36 per cent.

Barnet also saw a rise in other violent crimes including a nine per cent increase in burglary and a 15 per cent increase in sexual offences.

Barnet Conservatives criticised the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan for a surge in violent crimes in the borough.

Cllr David Longstaff, chairman of Barnet Council’s community leadership committee, said: “These statistics will terrify most Barnet families, not least because we have the fewest police officers per head of any London borough, despite making the biggest contribution to the Met budget.

“Labour’s Mayor will no doubt try to blame the Government. But his mismanagement of the Met’s resources, as evidenced by the Inspectorate of Constabulary, means he wastes the money he already gets.

“He’s hiked council tax bills twice in two years in the name of maintaining police numbers but there are now 2,000 fewer officers in the Met and only one police station left in Barnet. Taxpayers’ money just seems to slip through his fingers.”

Mr Longstaff added: “I urge residents to vote Conservative on May 3 to send a message to the Mayor that we want our fair share of police officers, and we want it now.”