Journey times to Bexley police front counters could rise for thousands (From News Shopper)

Journey times to Bexley police front counters could rise for thousands

2:58pm Friday 1st March 2013 in News By Tim MacFarlan, Bexley and north Kent reporter

Journey times to Bexley police front counters could rise for thousands of residents.

ACCESS to police front counters will be more difficult for thousands of people in Bexley if closure plans go ahead, it is claimed.

More than 13,000 people in the borough who can currently reach one in less than 45 minutes on public transport in daytime, will not be able to if Belvedere front counter is closed, according to new figures.

Under the Mayor of London’s Draft Police and Crime Plan Belvedere will close and Marlowe House in Sidcup will be open reduced hours leaving Bexley police headquarters in Bexleyheath as the only 24-hour front counter in the borough.

If the changes go ahead 21,348 residents will be more than three quarters of an hour from a front counter during the day using buses or trains, according to statistics taken from the Draft Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime Estate Strategy.

London Assembly Member Jenny Jones published the figures.

She said: "There has not been enough information provided to Londoners about how the Mayor’s proposals will affect them.

"It is really difficult for Londoners to be properly involved in a decision about closing front counters if they have no idea about whether these savings are essential and what the alternatives would cost."

The consultation on London’s Draft Police and Crime Plan closes on March 6.

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