Thomas Turrell AM called on the Mayor of London to deliver a new police base for Erith during their recent at Mayors Question Time (MQT).
One of Thomas’ priorities as Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley is to restore neighbourhood policing. As part of this he is campaigning for five new bases to reduce travel time for officers patrolling local neighbourhoods. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced the closure of around half of London’s police bases in 2017. A move which has left many officers stationed miles outside of the neighbourhoods they serve. Additionally, these officers have been left without transport to patrols, instead having to wait for the bus.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has been seeking funding for new bases. In the New Met for London plan, the Commissioners plans to restore faith and improve the Met Police, the commissioner set a target of having officers based no more than 20 minutes from the communities they serve.
During a recent exchange at Mayors Question Time, Thomas asked about progress towards identifying sites for these new bases and asked that a base be delivered for Erith. The Mayor did confirm that the bases would be funded, but only after the Property and Estate review was complete. No timetable for this completion was given and the review has been ongoing for a number of years already.
Thomas said:
“I am pleased that the Mayor has agreed to the funding of the new bases, but I am frustrated at the delay to delivering the much needed measures set out the in New Met for London plan. Residents deserve better than the current delay and dither. Our Neighbourhood policing desperately needs to be restored, and these new bases are a crucial part of this.”
