Boris is urged to look again at policing policy
AS Boris Johnson takes up the chairmanship of the Metropolitan Police Authority we wanted to draw his attention to the Estates Strategy which was due for decision but has been much amended and is now on hold . In the original draft of our borough s esta
AS Boris Johnson takes up the chairmanship of the Metropolitan Police Authority we wanted to draw his attention to the Estates Strategy which was due for decision but has been much amended and is now 'on hold'.
In the original draft of our borough's estate strategy there was a direct proposal to close Hampstead Station and further options to consider the closure of Kentish Town Station.
These have been strongly opposed by residents and widely criticised in every form in which it has been proposed.
More fundamental however, has been concern over the nature of policing in the local area and within Camden. In analysing the Estates Strategy and considering the most appropriate response it has become clear that the proposed model for policing in London is not one we accept in Camden. The proposal for a centralised police station in Camden - 'warehouse' - is unrealistic, expensive and lacks community consensus.
You may also want to watch:
There is also very real concern that the disposal of assets within the borough (most obviously Hampstead station and Kentish Town station) would release capital that would not be invested within Camden but dissipated across London.
Further, we note with concern the move towards locating Safer Neighbourhood Teams away from current stations, primarily due to the poor counter services.
Most Read
- 1 Armed police search Tube at Finchley Road and find 'imitation' gun
- 2 Brian Rose: Who is the London mayoral candidate in the suit on the billboards?
- 3 Teenage girls charged with Hampstead robberies
- 4 Camden Council seeks to honour Covid-19 pandemic heroes
- 5 Woman dies after house fire in Muswell Hill
- 6 Hampstead Heath bosses look for injunction power to stop bad behaviour
- 7 'Big elephant's backside': David Hare and Nicole Farhi slam house plans
- 8 Buyers launch legal action after £75k bill for flammable cladding
- 9 Mary Feilding Guild: New Highgate owner claims 'widespread Legionella'
- 10 HIV 'progress is stalling' says Royal Free doctor who consulted on It's A Sin
This is creating a significant new annual expense in leasehold contracts, whilst consideration is given to the disposal of freehold property.
Surely it would make sense to use the current freehold assets better, rather than incurring ongoing leasehold liability.
We ask the Mayor to re-assess the policy of the previous MPA and to consult anew with residents within Camden, specifically in Kentish Town and Hampstead.
Ed Fordham
(Lib Dem) Hampstead & Kilburn
Jo Shaw
Holborn & St Pancras
Cllr Linda Chung
Hampstead Town Ward
Nick Russell
Kentish Town Ward
