Havering is already one of London’s largest boroughs, but since 2017 it has also shared its Met policing command unit with neighbouring Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham.
When this so-called ‘triborough’ policing model was introduced, concern was expressed that it could hit police response times due to the geographical size of the boroughs being policed.
This is why I have always been concerned by the Mayor of London’s plan to dispose of Hornchurch Police Station. Given Havering’s size, I did not want my constituents in Hornchurch & Upminster depending on response officers based in Romford or Rainham. Along with other community groups, I campaigned against Hornchurch Police Station’s disposal a few years ago and a deal was struck to sell the base to Havering Council. The plan was for the site to be redeveloped, with the Met leasing back some of the space for local police teams to operate from.
The status of that deal was one of the first things I raised with our new Borough Police Commander, as well as Havering’s new council leader and his officers after the local elections. With hundreds of extra officers brought into the Met under the government’s police recruitment drive, the Met’s estate plan needs reviewing. However, City Hall seems to have gone quiet about whether it will be pursuing its Hornchurch Police Station plan.
I have now written to Mayor Khan to ask for an update on his plans for Hornchurch Police Station and whether he will be reviewing his decision to dispose of the site. A very proactive and successful community policing team currently operates from the station, and we need to make sure they can continue to carry out their important work. I will continue to raise this issue with local leaders and will let residents know when I have received the Mayor’s reply to my letter.
Separately, I have been pursuing residents’ concerns about long A&E waits at Queen’s Hospital. I have had some good meetings with the NHS to share cases that have been brought to my attention and am pleased that a substantial redesign of the Emergency Department will be implemented in September.
