Figures obtained by Sarah Teather shows station had more visitors than its counterpart in Kilburn
A Brent MP is calling for Harlesden Police Station to be saved from closure after figures showed it had more visitors than its counterpart in Kilburn.
Sarah Teather, Lib Dem MP for Brent Central, is calling for the Mayor of London to abandon his plans which would also see the axing of Willesden Green Police Station.
According to the statistics provided to the Times by Ms Teather, Harlesden Police Station had 642 visitors over a 25-day period while Kilburn had 633.
The police stations in Harlesden and Willesden Green are earmarked to lose their front counters alongside 63 others in London..
While Harlesden will continue to be a base for officers and Safer Neighbourhood Teams the Willesden building is expected to be sold off.
Ms Teather, who obtained the 2010 statistics from an answer to a question by London Assembly member Caroline Pigeon, is calling for Boris Johnson to abandon the plans which have been put out to public consultation.
She said: “Boris Johnson’s plans to close all the front counters in my constituency are completely unacceptable, especially when he hasn’t provided details of how he intends to replace them.
“It is unreasonable to expect local residents to take part in a consultation when they haven’t even been provided with all the information.”
It has also emerged that the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime is in talks with the Post Office over using their high street branches as location points.
A pilot will start in the summer where members of the public would use branches to report crimes or make general enquiries.
Mr Johnson said: “Putting more officers on the streets is key to driving down crime and boosting public confidence in the police and that is why it is at the heart of our plans for policing in the capital.
“In the current economic climate there is no denying that tough decisions will have to be made but policing in the capital is changing and we must change with it by creating a police force that is ready to tackle the issues that matter most to Londoners.”
Ms Teather has slammed the scheme, saying: “Police front counters are important, especially when it comes to reporting serious crimes.
“One in four rapes are reported at front counters, but how many people are going to feel safe giving details of violent crimes in their local Post Office?
In addition, under a new policing model, specialist crime squads will be axed and 4,600 officers moved into new neighbourhood teams led by a ‘Sheriff’-style borough commander accountable for meeting targets and cutting crime in their area.
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