Finsbury Park Petition Calls for Immediate CCTV Install

A petition to make Haringey safer for residents has collected more than 1,250 signatures in one week.

03:11 31 January 2022

A petition urging Haringey Council to make Finsbury Park safer for both residents and visitors has collected more than 1,250 signatures in one week. 

 

The appeal calls for the immediate installation of additional lighting and new CCTV in the park. Resident Katy Potts who set up the appeal on Change.org, said: “I started this petition because I’ve been appalled at the risks facing my 11-year-old son in the park. He’s just moved to a school in Highbury and he cannot even cycle home at 4pm.

 

“It’s a hostile environment. After work people want to walk around the park for their mental health and to use it to socialise or get around, but they have to walk around the streets instead." 

 

Katy added: “We’ve heard about the issue of gendered violence in the park, but I want to focus this time on the dangers facing children.

 

"I’m really up for getting schools and local parent groups involved if nothing happens, and organising a rally for children’s safety.”

 

Councillor Mike Hakata issued a statement on the issue saying: “Three CCTV cameras have been installed at Finsbury Park and are operational. Two more will be operational by the end of this month (January 2022). A sixth camera will follow as well.

 

“New lighting which aligns with the location of the CCTV will also soon be installed between the Finsbury Gate and the Endymion Road Gate, including the spurs that lead to Oxford Road and Stroud Green Road. After many conversations with residents we will treat installation as a matter of urgency.

 

“Some species and their habitats are protected by national legislation and European law – which we consider when installing lighting in parks and green spaces. But public safety – particularly that of women and girls – is our first priority. We want to work alongside residents to codesign better safety measures for our parks in the future.”