Hornchurch & Upminster MP Julia Lopez has responded to the Metropolitan Police’s decision to restrict opening hours at Romford Police Station’s front counter, saying the move strengthens the case for investing in Hornchurch Police Station and potentially reopening its counter.
From December, Romford’s counter will operate on reduced hours — 10am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 7pm at weekends — instead of 24 hours a day. The Met says the change follows public feedback indicating Londoners would prefer a wider spread of front counters across the city, even if fewer remain open around the clock.
Mrs Lopez said that if the Met is serious about ensuring better geographic coverage, then residents in Hornchurch and the wider area should once again have access to a local police counter.
“If the Met believes Londoners want a broader spread of counters, that should mean renewed investment in Hornchurch Police Station and serious consideration of reopening its front counter,” Mrs Lopez said. “Our long-running campaign to stop the sell-off of Hornchurch Police Station continues, but we’ve still had no word from the Met about their plans for this critical base, despite previous assurances that their estates strategy would clarify its future.”
She added that the Met must not use the changes at Romford as a “smokescreen to pare back” the policing presence in Havering, warning that any reduction in access would further stretch local resources.
In more positive news, Mrs Lopez welcomed the Met’s decision to stop recording and investigating non-crime hate incidents, describing it as “a long overdue change” that should allow police to focus on tackling the crimes that most affect residents.
