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News

Council urges residents to fight police station closures

Published: Monday, 11 September 2017

Leader of the Council, Councillor Roger Ramsey, is urging residents to speak out against proposals to close several police public access points across the borough.

The Council strongly opposes the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime’s (MOPAC) proposal to close both Hornchurch and Rainham police stations along with seven Safer Neighbourhood bases where members of the public can contact the Police’s Safer Neighbourhood teams face-to-face. This will only leave one 24-hour publically accessible police station in the borough, based in Romford. The Patrol Base at Spilsbury road, Harold Hill will also remain open.

MOPAC would like residents to report crimes online without the victim actually meeting a police officer, however Havering Council opposes this as it could have the opposite affect and discourage residents from reporting crime in the borough.

Councillor Ramsey, said: “I understand that there are cuts being made to the service which has put the Mayor in a difficult position, but closing two of our police stations and Safer Neighbourhood bases is a short-sighted decision and is very alarming.

“The public access police stations in Rainham and Hornchurch are only open for three hours per week, but act as a visible safety presence on our high streets. Closing both stations down will leave our residents feeling unsafe and for some, in particular residents in Rainham, this means having to travel over an hour to their nearest police station, which is not acceptable.

“Together we need to speak up against these proposals.

“I also urge residents across the borough to attend MOPAC’s public meeting on Wednesday 13 September, at the Salvation Army in Romford from 6pm to 8pm. This meeting clashes with the Full Council meeting at the Town Hall which all councillors are expected to attend. I will however be raising this issue with the Borough Commander.”

Residents can send in comments and respond to the consultation:

The consultation ends on Friday 6 October.