Hampstead Police Station is costing more to keep closed than open
The squatters had offered to protect Hampstead Police Station free of charge before they were evicted. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant
Scotland Yard is spending more of taxpayers’ money on looking after the axed Hampstead police station than before the building was closed.
The site’s high running costs were one of the main justifications for closure 11 months ago.
But police are now shelling out more on security fees to keep out squatters, following the eviction two weeks ago of a group who had taken over the annexe – and offered to look after the former station in Rosslyn Hill free of charge.
The Met spends £2,500 a week on security, while about £1,750 went on maintenance before its closure.
Annually, the burden on the public purse would be £130,000, compared with about £92,000 when it was still operational.
A £5,000 legal bill was also incurred in evicting the squatters.
You may also want to watch:
Jessica Learmond-Criqui, of the Hampstead Shops Campaign, and Cllr Chris Knight, member for Hampstead Town ward, both branded the situation “ridiculous” and called for the station to be reopened until the site is sold.
A Met spokesman insisted the security contract would only be a short-term measure, to keep the building secure until it is sold “within a four to six week period”.
Most Read
- 1 Keepers read bedtime 'tails' from London Zoo during closure
- 2 Jeremy Corbyn launches Peace and Justice Project with calls to action
- 3 Arsenal boss Arteta worried about player burnout
- 4 O2 Centre: developer Landsec 'looking to re-provide' Sainsbury's
- 5 Crouch End Vampires help feed homeless with soup kitchen fundraiser
- 6 Is lockdown working in north London? Here's what the latest data tells us
- 7 Arsenal column: Granit Xhaka the stand out performer since Boxing Day but some of his senior professionals continue to disappoint
- 8 Lord's Cricket Ground used as Covid-19 vaccination centre
- 9 Joan Bakewell fires legal threat to government over second Covid jab
- 10 West Hampstead restaurant cooks for NHS carers
He added that the site is “under offer for educational use”.