Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Police Station - Contact Point Update

I found out today that the reason the Police don't want to use the Docking Station, is that they are not prepared to pay anything towards the cost of the space - space occupied by a charity prepared to share with other public and community services. 

The Police want level access, a toilet, a private room, expect it to be warm and clean and secure - and that costs money.  The Docking Station estimates around £25 per hour.  But the Met are unwilling to pay that.  We know they are facing cuts, but surely they can afford £600 per month?!

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

BRENTFORD POLICE STATION REPLACEMENT - A ROOM IN GREEN DRAGON LANE

Cllr Mel Collins and I are surprised (to say the least) that the Met plans to replace Brentford's Police station with  a Contact Point -  a room at the base of Cornish House, one of the Tower Blocks on Green Dragon Lane, over a mile from the heart of the town centre.

It's bad enough that we are to lose the town's Police station as a result of Boris' cuts to the Met but to replace the front desk with Contact Point open for as little as three hours a week, in a room that is out of the way and difficult to get to on public transport is simply unacceptable.

We first heard about the proposal at last month's Community Police Consultative Group meeting and have offered to help the Met to find a Borough Commander to find a more accessible base in the heart of the community.   People wanting to talk to a Police officer need somewhere that is safe and secure, but also easy to get to.  The full details can be found in the Met's Estates Strategy.

We are pictured here outside the Docking Station, a community hub in the middle of Brentford High Street.  It is one of several venues the Police should have considered at a future Contact Point.

If you have a suggestion for an accesible venue the Police could use as a Contact Point, for a minimum of 3 hours per week, weekday evenings and Saturdays - please email me: ruth.cadbury@hounslow.gov.uk