Save Hampstead Police Station

5.08.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 3rd Oct 2005

Hampstead police station is in a prime position and install confidence in th strong relationship between the Police and the local community

Yet again Hampstead Police Station is facing an uncertain future says Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Ed Fordham.

THE FACTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

· The MPA (Metropolitan Police Authority) are reviewing police accommodation in Camden

· Hampstead is being specifically considered: "One of the issues under consideration is the provision of a more appropriate and accessible MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] presence for the Hampstead community"

· Consultants have been retained to draw up plans

· An alternative either nearby or in the general area of Hampstead high street is floated - but this would just be a shop window for the Safer Neighbourhood Team.

· Several Police Officers and leading Police body activists are privately speaking about Hampstead Police Station facing closure

Ed Fordham says "Residents will be furious when they find out that this is in the wind again. The police station houses both the Safer Neighbourhood Team and Police Sector Teams and has only just been brought up to full strength - the last thing we need is a battle to save the police station.

"Crime is dropping and there is a sense that the streets in Hampstead and area are getting safer but to look to close the station would send out the wrong message - it would be a disaster.

"Local Policing is essential to effective policing. And trying to tie this in with a review of the sector structures within the police Force is misleading too. IF IT AIN'T BROKE THEN DON'T FIX IT.

"Closing Hampstead Police Station, or even just running it down to a skeleton presence, would be totally the wrong thing to do. Local knowledge and local relationships would be lost and broken, all the good work achieved over recent months would be undermined."

"I will be raising this at the meeting of Camden Community and Police Consultative Group tonight and will be looking for the whole picture to become public and to try and gain some guarantees. I will be fighting for the Police Station to remain open, remain where it is and for the current compliment of policing to be confirmed for the foreseeable future."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Ed Fordham was the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate in 2005 General Election against Glenda Jackson MP and he lives in Christchurch Hill, Hampstead.

The Camden Community & Police Consultative group will meet at 7pm on Monday 3rd October at Conway Hall, 25 red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL