Serious public services need serious public spaces, says MP (From Haringey Independent)

Cutting police station hours sends wrong message says MP for Tottenham David Lammy

9:22am Thursday 10th January 2013 in News By Bruce Thain

Tottenham Police Station in High Road

An MP says cutting the opening hours of a police station is the "wrong message" to send to people in Tottenham.

Yesterday it was announced by Mayor of London Boris Johnson that Tottenham police station, would have its opening house slashed as part of a city-wide plan for policing.

MP for Tottenham David Lammy has hit out at the plans which he says will send the wrong message after the riots.

He said: "Tottenham felt abandoned on the night of the riots. Turning our police station into a 'daytime only' operation whilst memories of the riots are still fresh is the wrong message to send to residents, businesses and, most importantly, criminals.

"Whatever alternative is proposed, whether social media or police counters in post offices, it will be no substitute for a permanent, 24 hour building.

“If you want to stay on top of gang crime, or break up human trafficking rackets, you need a place where people feel safe and secure where they can report those crimes and reaching them needs to be convenient.

"People won’t tweet their local Met force about a suspect drug den, nor will they snake between the tables at Costa Coffee to report a brothel. Serious public services need serious public spaces."

The Mayors draft Police and Crime Plan for London will also see the closure of Muswell Hill police station and hours cut at Hornsey station.

Haringey will be left with just one 24-hour police station in High Road, Wood Green.