Camden Islington & West End - News Reviews Listings

UPDATED EVERY
FRIDAY
Last Update:
Friday 14th October, 2005

PUBLICATION

By KIM JANSSEN

SECTIONS

NAVIGATION

Police cut crime but lose officers

Sale row station ‘crap’, says chief

A DOUBLE-whammy of police cuts and restructuring will see 30 officers removed from Camden and another 30 taken off serious crime duties in the next 12 months.
The sale of Hampstead Police Station, revealed last week, could be used to ease a cash crisis which marks the first major test of borough commander Mark Heath’s leadership since he took over two years ago.
On Tuesday he described the crumbling Victorian grade II-listed police station in Rosslyn Hill as “crap”, the clearest indication yet that he thinks it will go. It could fetch £10 million.
Crime has been falling faster in Camden than almost anywhere else in London but the reduction has come alongside increased police numbers.
Chief Supt Heath must reduce the 900 crimes a week in Camden by a fifth in three years with reduced numbers after being ordered to cut 30 officers from his force.
The London-wide policy of introducing Safer Neighbourhood teams of three beat officers to tackle low-level crime in each ward by the end of next year means a further 30 officers will have to be moved from their current jobs, after the promised central funding disappeared.
Speaking at his weekly press briefing, Chief Supt Heath said that, if Hampstead Police Station was sold, he would expect to keep most of the money from the sale within the borough. He added: “Have you been inside it? It is absolute crap. It’s all very well having a pretty building from the street but it’s no good to me if it’s crappy for policing. What I want is something better to replace it.”
Liberal Democrat Ed Fordham, who hopes to be elected to Camden Council at next year’s polls and has secured 900 signatures on a petition to save the police station, said: “It’s a pretty astonishing statement to make about a flagship building which reflects years of successful work between police and the community.
“With an open mind, a solution could be found to update the station and make it fit for its purpose.”
Janine Griffis, chairwoman of Camden Police Community Consultative Group, said: “In every conversation I have had with Mark Heath he has stressed that no decision has yet been taken.
“At the moment I am waiting for the consultant’s report on what the options are. It has to be said there is quite serious structural damage to the building.”

Iberian organic wins day

WHERE do managers of Oddbins go when they want an interesting and reasonably priced wine?
FULL STORY

I konw! Invest in community

I CAN’T swim. In fact, I’d rather spend the night watching a double bill of the Krankies...
FULL STORY

top