An MP has welcomed news that a police station will stay open for another twelve months.

Barnet police station's front desk closed in 2017, but officers still work in the building in Barnet High Street.

The station is due to move to Colindale police station - but cannot do so until major renovation work there is completed in August next year.

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers met with Barnet Police Commander and Chief Superintendent, Sarah Leach on Friday (May, 22) to discuss the future of Barnet station before the building is sold off to developers.

During the meeting Chief Supt Leach confirmed that she and other officers will occupy the premises until August 2020.

Ms Villiers said: “I have made many representations to the Mayor and the Met Police, urging them to save Barnet Police Station. So I very much welcome the confirmation from Sarah Leach that additional officers will move into Barnet Police Station in August. She told me that they will be there for at least 12 months, to enable renovation to take place at Colindale Police Station. It is even possible that the front desk at Barnet police station might re-open for part of this period, but that isn't definitely decided yet.”

The Conservative MP has been running a campaign to save Barnet Police Station and re-open its front desk since the Mayor London announced his closure plans early in his mayoralty.

She became increasingly concerned for her constituents, fearing the closure of Barnet police station would result in less police presence, and feared her constituents could face difficulty travelling to the police station in Colindale.

She added: “No police presence would undermined the neighbourhood watch communities and my constituents have told me that they would feel a lot safer knowing the authorities were close by.”

In 2017 Mayor Sadiq Khan announced plans to close more than half of London’s 73 police stations in a bid to raise £165 million for the capital.

Statistics provided by Police UK show that crime in the area went up by 29 per cent during April 2018 to March 2019.

She said: “Having the station open for at least twelve months means that police response times will be quicker. My constituents have told me that a police presence will make them feel safe. It will also mean the borough will have more officers patrolling the streets for a year at least."