Report by Mayor of London states site ‘no longer meets policing needs’

Brent & Kilburn Times: Harlesden Police StationHarlesden Police Station (Image: Archant)

The future of Kilburn Police Station is in the balance as it has been revealed that the front counters in Harlesden and Willesden will definitely go.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Wembley Police StationWembley Police Station (Image: Archant)

Under the plans, by the Mayor of London’s office, the two counters will be axed as part of a plan to save the Met £500million over three years.

A public consultation into the proposals, which affects 65 counters across London, ended earlier this month and the final plans were announced today.

Wembley and Kilburn Police Station will remain, although the latter will only open its front counters during ‘daytime hours’.

However a report complied by the Mayor’s office concluded that Kilburn Police Station ‘will not meet longer term policing needs and alternative facilities will be required nearby to meet future policing requirements including front counter facilities with appropriate public access’.

It added that the police station will remain open until an alternative is found and any refurbishment needed will be limited to meet ‘health and safety updates’.

Despite the closure of the front counter in Harlesden Police Station the site will remain a focal point of policing in the borough as it will become one of five ‘contact points’ in Brent.

The point, which are also are located in Walm Lane in Willesden, Barningham Way in Kingsbury, Station Road in Harlesden, and Strata House in Cricklewood, will allow residents to meet officers on a non-urgent basis.

All will be open for an hour every Wednesday and Thursday evening at 7pm and on Saturdays at 2pm.

Cllr Lincoln Beswick, Brent Council’s lead member for crime and community safety said he was pleased Harlesden Police Station will still be used by officers in the borough.

He added: “I fought for the change to retain Harlesden which is good but the police need to think about what they wall do with Kilburn.

“There needs to a police presence in Kilburn not necessarily a big station but some presence.”

The borough’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams will continue to be based at 12 offices across the borough including Harlesden Police Station.

Harlesden and Willesden Police Stations were included on a list of 65 front counters in London to be closed pending a public consultation which ended earlier this month.

According to Mr Johnson, the changes will see more officers on the streets of Brent and across London.

He added: “Londoners have repeatedly told us that putting more officers on the streets is their top priority, not keeping them hidden behind desks in offices which the public rarely set foot in. By getting our police out onto the streets and into the heart of their communities, we will drive down crime and boost confidence, and at the same time build a Met Police Service which is leaner, more efficient and more effective.”