Hornchurch and Upminster MP Julia Lopez has written again to Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, to seek urgent clarity on the future of Hornchurch Police Station.
In her letter, Mrs Lopez calls on the Met to publish its long-awaited Estates Strategy and confirm that Hornchurch Station will be retained as a permanent base for neighbourhood policing in the borough of Havering.
The letter follows years of campaigning by Julia to prevent the sale of the site, first announced by Mayor Sadiq Khan in 2017. At the time, she helped secure Havering Council the option to purchase the station and lease part of it back to the Metropolitan Police to ensure a continuing police presence in the east of the borough.
Since then, progress has stalled and no final decision has been made, prompting concerns that the opportunity to retain the site could be lost. In the letter, Julia highlights the vital operational role Hornchurch Station continues to play as the home of the Havering Joint Task Force who tackle key local crimes including burglary, car theft and drug misuse.
The call comes amid wider uncertainty about the Met’s estate, following its recent proposal to close thirteen front counters and reduce the opening hours of a further eleven across London.
“Havering is one of the largest boroughs in the capital, and Hornchurch Police Station remains a critical base for local neighbourhood teams,” said Mrs Lopez. “While the front counter has been closed for some time, losing the site altogether would mean no alternative police base nearby and slower response times for residents. I want to see it retained to support visible, effective community policing in this part of London.”
Mrs Lopez also referred to the Met’s New Met for London Plan, which committed to placing officers in locations that are visible and accessible to the public. She argued that keeping Hornchurch open would support that objective and reflect the needs of both residents and officers working in Havering.
