,  By  T-VINE

Met’s Turkish police officers to hold ‘contact’ visits to reassure community after DJ Koray’s murder

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Turkish Police Association (TPA) are to hold two contact points in North and East London over the coming days to meet with members of the Turkish and Turkish-speaking communities.

The first Community Contact Point will be at Shacklewell Lane Mosque in Dalston, Hackney, from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, 22 October.

The TPA will follow up with a second Community Contact Point at the Turkish Cypriot Community Association (TCCA) on Green Lanes, Harringay, on Monday evening, 24 October, from 7pm to 9pm.

Any member of the local community, including those of a non-Turkish background, are welcome to visit these Contact Points to meet with serving police officers to discuss any concerns they may have about crime. They can also put forward ideas and initiatives for the police to consider.

The TPA Community Contact Points have been arranged in the wake of the murder of popular Turkish DJ Koray Alpergin, the founder of Bizim FM and owner of Kral FM, two London based Turkish radio stations.

The sessions are being organised on a voluntary basis by serving TPA officers, and held in their own free time, to help reassure the local Turkish community following the harrowing incident last weekend.

Mr Alpergin, a father of two, was abducted from outside his North London home, along with his girlfriend, on Thursday evening, 13 October. His girlfriend was later found unharmed. The body of Mr Alpergin was discovered in woodland in Loughton on Saturday,15 October. Three men have been charged with his abduction and murder.

TPA head, Acting Inspector Eren Emin, told T-VINE: “We know the death of Koray Alpergin has left many members of London’s Turkish, Turkish Cypriot and Kurdish communities shocked and traumatised.

“Our Community Contact Points will give community members an opportunity to meet serving police officers to discuss their concerns about this case, and about crime in general.

“The Metropolitan Police is making good progress in Koray’s case, and we are grateful for the information and support from the community to date. By working together and taking positive steps, we can all contribute towards a making London safer for all,” A/Inspector Emin added.

The TPA is currently in talks with other community groups and spaces to arrange more  Community Contact Points across London in the near future.