Hornchurch MP lobbies Met Commissioner to keep police station

Julia Lopez MP wants the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime to retain ownership of the police station (Credit: Julia Lopez)

The MP for Hornchurch and Upminster has called on the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner to secure the future of Hornchurch Police Station.

The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) revealed it wanted to close and sell the site in 2017.

Havering Council agreed to buy the station in 2018 so that it could lease it back to MOPAC but the purchase has still not been completed.

Julia Lopez MP has written to Sir Mark Rowley QPM urging him to review the situation.

She argued the recent recruitment of 350 additional officers in the East BCU undermined the original reason for disposing of the site.

“Havering is a geographically large borough and without a base in Hornchurch, response and neighbourhood officers will have to travel long distances to go on shift or respond to crimes in my constituency,” wrote Lopez.

“In recent years, the neighbourhood team in Hornchurch town centre have been able to make a real difference through things like OP Gambler, and I know when speaking to officers that they are also grateful to have a local base from which to undertake paperwork or change into uniform.”

The MP has also requested a meeting with Rowley.

You can read a copy of her letter to the Commissioner here.

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