Labour brings closure of East Dulwich Police Station nearer

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Oct 2006

A Liberal Democrat Councillor has accused the Labour-run Metropolitan Police Authority of being afraid to tell the public and the residents of East Dulwich the truth about cut-backs to their local police service. This is in spite of a clear duty to keep local communities informed about proposed changes.

"The residents of East Dulwich need clarity from the MPA and from local Police chiefs," said Jonathan Mitchell, Liberal Democrat Councillor for East Dulwich ward. "Despite persistent rumours and reports that East Dulwich Police Station is to close, no Senior Police Officer in Southwark is prepared to spell out what the future for Policing is in East Dulwich."

"Since June, Police Officers and others have been tasked to go around actively looking for accommodation that the Police can relocate to when they move out of East Dulwich Police Station. A recent Dulwich Community Council Meeting was told that amongst a number of locations being investigated was the Dulwich Hospital site."

"Many local residents in East Dulwich fear their local Police Station is about to be sold off to a National Retail Group, despite the many hundreds of supporters of the Liberal Democrat Campaign to make East Dulwich a proper working Police Station - open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

"We do not believe that there can never be any change in Police Stations. We have been pressing for the Police to look at ways of making the current East Dulwich site more viable. It could become a base for the local dedicated police teams, the community wardens, the enforcement officers, the crime prevention teams and others, so that they can work more closely with and be more accessible to the public."

"We also accept that the location of the Police Station might change to a building that is more fit for purpose. However, any alternative venue must ensure that all local law enforcement officials are under one roof. The venue must be convenient for local residents and it must be open for long hours - preferably 24 hours a day."

"To close East Dulwich Police Station would go completely against what the Police have achieved in East Dulwich, and what they want for the future in this area. It is vital to have an open and staffed Police Station that is well known to local people so that they know where to go to report crime and to get assistance."

"At a time when local people are quite reasonably concerned about the reports of increased violent crime in our area, this is not the moment for Labour to be killing off proper joined-up law enforcement in our area".