Reprieve as Met rethinks station closures decision

POLICE officials have supported Mayor Boris Johnson s promise to the Ham&High to suspend the closure of police stations. A meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority last Thursday looked at the closure plans which would see stations in Hampstead, Golder

POLICE officials have supported Mayor Boris Johnson's promise to the Ham&High to suspend the closure of police stations.

A meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority last Thursday looked at the closure plans which would see stations in Hampstead, Golders Green and Kentish Town axed.

Officers were so impressed by the response from the area that they agreed to suspend closure plans until September.

Just weeks ago, Mr Johnson announced exclusively to the Ham&High his intention to delay and review the closures - a move now set in stone by the Met committee's agreement.

Chairman Steve O'Connell said: "There were limitations

to the process which we all recognise. The results we did get have illustrated that our communities need more information about how the services provided in their name operate - in order to understand how they need to develop and change to improve.

"But it also highlighted considerable opposition in some areas to the removal of local police facilities, specifically iconic police stations."

About 800 people responded to the closure consultation in Camden, which accounted for 55 per cent of the total response for London.