Illustration by John Sadler www.johnsadlerillustration.com

• IT was really interesting to read your April 15 lead story of the sad tale of the old Hampstead police station having been empty for nearly a decade, (Hampstead police station put up for sale after standing empty for eight years).

However what was surprising to me, and many others who live in north London, was the continuing and protracted debate about its future use. A school, a jailhouse rock museum?

It’s pretty blindingly obvious what it should be used for – a police station. That’s what it was designed and built for in 1912.

Hampstead High Street and its environs has currently one of the highest crime rates in London and the sighting of a policeman on the local streets is very rare indeed.

I have no doubt that the vast majority of residents in the NW3 area would support its reinstation for the purpose it was built for.

We all know money is tight for our underfunded police but I’ve also no doubt that many of the well-heeled citizens of Hampstead would chip in considerably for its refurbishment. Surely this is a campaign you should be championing.

PAUL HAMANN
Leverton Street, NW5