Mayor of London gives the green light for building to be sold alongside Kingsbury Police Station

Two police stations in the borough will be sold off with one facing closure within months.

Willesden Green Police Station, in Willesden High Road and Kingsbury Police Office in The Mall, have both been approved by Mayor of London, Boris Johnson for disposal by the end of the financial year.

The future of Willesden Green Police station has attracted publicity in recent months with Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Mathew Gardner, admitting in February that he had earmarked it for closure.

Speaking about the decision he said: “With the cuts ahead, I have to decide on having a cop behind a desk or walking the beat looking the public in the eye and saying good morning and being able to help them when they are called upon.”

Kingsbury Police Office, which recently housed the Fryent Safer Neighbourhoods Team, but is currently unused, will also be put on the market.

According to the Metropolitan Police, many of the 800 buildings owned by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) are “inefficient” for modern day policing. A spokesman for Brent Police said: “We are looking at police estate requirements in Brent, including Willesden Green police station.”

He said they had also put a proposal to MOPAC about Kingsbury Police Office and that the building had been approved for release. “The buildings have been under-occupied meaning that the building is larger than needed and is also costly to run.”

What do you think? Should police stations be closing? Email max.walters@archant.co.uk or call 0207 433 6244