Calls for police hub to stay
The Mayor’s office is forcing the closure of our two nearest police stations, leaving the nearest police station the other side of Kensington High Street in Earls Court Road.
This has nothing to do with local police, who are against the Mayor’s Offices for Police and Crime (MOPAC) decision to close our police stations.
Claire van Helfteren, chair of the Independent Advisory Group, which advises on how the community feels about policing, says: “We need to retain a police presence in North Kensington. I see this as an incredible opportunity for local councillors to show that they care about the North Kensington community.”
The huge police building on Ladbroke Grove, near to Holland Park Avenue, is currently a ward of community asset, so it has some protection, and it hasn’t been sold yet. “It could be made into a community hub,” says van Helfteren,” If a developer buys it they could make money from the top two floors and the bottom two floors could become a community hub, with a police station, doctor’s surgery and even a food bank located there.” MOPAC are currently delaying any consultation until after the 6th May Mayoral election, which means a 4-6 week consultation could result in a swift disappearance of our police presence in North Kensington after June.
Since the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy there has been a police front desk at Royalty Studios in Lancaster Road, but the lease there ends soon. Without MOPAC blocking the decision, this could be extended. “The issue is the police presence in the community and police going to and from the Royalty Studios hub can see what is going on. Community policing means having police in our community,” explains van Helfteren, “Part of the Mayor’s recent engagement plan is to reach out to young hard to reach groups, one of those is 18-25 year old BAME men, many of whom live in the north of the borough, where there is also a lot of gang tension.”
Van Helfteren has organised a petition to ask for retention of our police base www.change.org
