Barnet Council staff will join hundreds of police officers today (25 September) during a mass community engagement event aimed at reaching thousands of residents across the borough.

The day will see around 500 police officers, fire-fighters, London Ambulance staff, Barnet Council and Barnet Homes officers, representatives of victim support, drugs workers and other voluntary sector organisations out and about in the borough talking with residents.

Barnet Council staff will be supporting the event by hosting an information stand outside the branch of Sainsbury’s in High Road, North Finchley, from 9am.

Officers will be on hand to provide advice and information around safeguarding adults and children from abuse, as well as distributing wallet cards detailing key contact information for anyone experiencing domestic violence or those concerned about a child’s welfare or that of an older or vulnerable person.

The Barnet Community Safety Team, along with representatives of the Barnet Safer Communities Partnership, will be encouraging people to take part in the Community Safety Strategy consultation.

The consultation will help shape how the borough’s Partnership Board will tackle crime and disorder over the next three years.

Barnet Homes staff from Neighbourhood Teams, the Housing Options Service and Regeneration estates will be in attendance to support the event at key locations across the borough.

As well as meeting with residents who might not otherwise come into contact with the police, officers will be out highlighting recent reductions in burglary and robbery in the borough and promoting the ‘clocks, locks and lights’ anti-burglary campaign.

With the clocks due to go back, the advice includes checking your home security in time for the winter months, setting timer switches for lights, fitting security lights and making sure it looks as if you are in when there is nobody at home.

Activities will be taking place in all 21 of the borough’s wards with police officers, special constables, community support officers, cadets and other organisations visiting shopping centres, schools, transport hubs, hospitals and town centres.

These include Brent Cross Shopping Centre, the Spires shopping centre in Chipping Barnet, Barnet Hospital and Edgware Community Hospital.

Councillor David Longstaff, Chairman of the Community Leadership Committee, said: “This event is unprecedented in scale for Barnet and it’s fantastic that there are so many members of the emergency services and staff from other organisations out there meeting with people. Crime rates are low in Barnet, but today will give people a great opportunity to ask any questions they may have and also get hold of some really good advice on how to stay safe.”