A new police chief has taken charge of Brent, Harrow and Barnet at a time when Harrow is facing major changes to local policing.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams has been appointed Commander of the North West Basic Command Unit (BCU), which oversees policing across the three boroughs. His arrival comes as the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the front counter at Harrow Police Station will close by the end of 2025. The closure is part of a wider plan to shut 18 counters across London in response to a £260 million budget gap, saving around £7 million a year.
In an open letter to residents, published on 15 August, Williams said: “I am the new Basic Command Unit (BCU) Commander with the privilege of leading policing in the North West BCU which fights crime, keeps people safe and creates environments where people feel safe across Brent, Harrow & Barnet. I hope to be in a position to share similar open letters with you at regular intervals in the future and plan to use these to update on what policing in your local area is doing to fight crime and keep you safe.”
Williams, who previously worked in Brent and Harrow as part of the Met’s Child Abuse Investigation Team, said he was “tremendously passionate about the police’s role in keeping the public safe.”
He highlighted recent work carried out by officers, including large-scale operations against crime. “I have seen neighbourhood officers passionate about crimefighting in their communities with one of our teams arresting 83 individuals over the last month and another one targeting those supplying drugs and causing misery in our communities. As part of our summer plan we have targeted those who continue to offend and a recent shoplifting operation saw prolific offenders charged with tens of offences,” he said.
Williams also recalled witnessing officers act bravely in life-threatening situations. “I have seen officers save lives by evacuating a row of shops and residential premises which were on fire. This was an especially sobering moment when the fire spread and set light to properties that had been evacuated moments earlier.”
To help residents stay updated, Williams pointed to the recent launch of Met Engage, a free messaging service providing crime updates, safety advice and local news. “It also allows you to tell us what’s concerning you so we can take action on the things that really matter to you,” he said, encouraging people to sign up at www.MetEngage.co.uk.
He added: “It is really important to me that you feel up-to-speed with the issues affecting policing locally here in the North West so I plan to share information in a similar way on a regular basis.”
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