In last year's London Mayoral race, Sadiq Khan pledged to maintain 'a 24-hour police front office counter in every London borough'. However, despite these promises, the number of police front counters across the capital are being reduced. Both Hayes and South Harrow police stations were set to close completely under the initial proposals, which would have left residents in Hillingdon and Harrow without a walk-in service. With crime on the rise in London, this felt wholly irresponsible.
Following a campaign led by local Conservatives, Hayes Police Station will remain open. Although it will operate with reduced hours - and is therefore still in breach of the Mayor's manifesto commitment - I welcome that residents in Hillingdon will still have an accessible police front counter service.
However, plans to close South Harrow are pressing ahead, and I am even more concerned to hear that the volunteer-run desk at Pinner Police Station will also be closing completely.
This is worrying, particularly for older and more vulnerable residents. For them, knowing they have somewhere accessible to report a crime or share evidence, without having to travel miles, is reassuring. This has been highlighted further in the wake of the horrific and tragic attack that took place in neighbouring Uxbridge, which has left residents understandably shaken and extremely worried.
I will be campaigning alongside council colleagues to save this valued local facility.
