Police stations in Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham to close (From News Shopper)
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Police stations in Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham to close
2:06pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Bexley By Mark Chandler
Police stations in Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham to close
A LIST of police stations proposed for closure has been released by the Mayor of London.
Boris Johnson's draft Police and Crime Plan proposes selling off 65 front counters across the capital to help make savings of £60m.
The plans only guarantee one 24-hour station in each borough, keeping just 71 open in the capital.
Stations remaining open for 24 hours a day in the News Shopper area will be Bexleyheath, Plumstead, Bromley and Lewisham.
In Lewisham borough, Catford and Deptford will be downgraded to a daytime service.
According to the mayor, less than 50 crimes a night are reported on average at police front counters and only the least used will be closed. Police contact points are set to be opened in London's council buidlings, libraries and post offices instead.
Mr Johnson said: "In the current economic climate there is no denying that tough decisions will have to be made but policing in the capital is changing and we must change with it by creating a police force that is ready to tackle the issues that matter most to Londoners."
Deputy Mayor for Policing Stephen Greenhalgh said: "The changes proposed by the Mayor will give London the police force it needs for the twenty-first century and reconnect Londoners with the first public service. By putting bobbies before buildings and being smarter about how we use budgets we can not only create a police force to be proud of but one that we can afford."
A consultation is being held on the proposals, with a number of public meetings across the area. For details visit www.london.gov.uk/policingevents
Proposed Closures:
Bexley
Belvedere
Thamesmead
Bromley
Biggin Hill
Orpington
Sydenham
Lewisham
Brockley
Sydenham
Greenwich
Thamesmead
Greenwich
Woolwich
Comments(8)
GSAndy
says...
8:59am Thu 10 Jan 13
smurf4568
says...
11:30am Thu 10 Jan 13
"Police stations in Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham to close"
doesn't make sense when the article states
"Stations remaining open for 24 hours a day in the News Shopper area will be Bexleyheath, Plumstead, Bromley and Lewisham. "
Familyguy321
says...
11:38am Thu 10 Jan 13
The problem of staffing a desk somewhere will still remain. Also will they be accused of sat there doing nothing if no one decides to talk to them.
I'm guessing the premises will also want paying for the trading space they are giving up or will we be doubling up as security as well.
We don't need a station on every corner. But you can't have serious conversations with someone if there is a queue forming behind you. Even the most basic of crime reports is 20 - 30 mins in total.
Why don't we just do a mail drop on the assumption that at some point some day you will need to report something so just fill it in and pop it back when your a victim.
I don't understand how police and hospitals close yet we give foreign aid.
Gypo.Joe
says...
12:02pm Thu 10 Jan 13
plasticfantastic
says...
8:23pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Polly Staight
says...
8:35am Fri 11 Jan 13
...But the more immediate problem is that these police stations are in the very same position as some of our hospitals...
...They were created through a PFI type of contract. It was my cousin that actually designed a lot of these public buildings... Bromley and Lewisham Crown Courts and Police Stations... The prison in Woolwich (which seems to have a new name all of a sudden).
I remember having a huge argument with him about the crass nature of the then Labour government, pointing out that it was a case of "jam today", to which his reply was that his firm was doing OK out of it...
...My how we laughed, when he told me that he had lost his partnership because the government (same one) had suddenly cancelled a pile of defence contract buildings, because following our involvement in Iraq, there was no money left for those contracts.
PaulErith
says...
1:16pm Wed 16 Jan 13
plasticfantastic wrote:Totally agree. Stop ALL foreign aid immediately.
Foreign Aid is a whole different argument, and I agree with you. It's a disgrace with all the cutbacks of wages, police, healthcare, education. The very core of British society is being eroded but billions is still being pumped into countries who don't need or deserve our help.
Polly Staight says...
10:46pm Wed 9 Jan 13