Petitions

Report: 4
Date: 19 April 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

Two petitions have been received from residents of New Malden and Kingston and from Richmond-upon-Thames seeking the re-opening of the enquiries desk at New Malden Police Station. Representative of those residents have requested the opportunity to present their views to the MPA.

A. Recommendation

That Members receive the petitions and be invited to comment the issues they raise.

B. Supporting information

Background to the closure of New Malden Police Station enquiry desk

1. The front office at New Malden Police Station was closed in 1998. The decision to close this office was made on the premise that at the time Kingston Division had four police stations to staff where only one had sufficient demand to warrant being open 24 hours. These stations were Kingston, Surbiton, Esher and New Malden.

2. Kingston Division was made up of three sectors that reflected the needs and demands of the communities they served; Kingston, Surbiton and Esher. Kingston now has two sectors following boundary changes of April 2000; the Borough of Elmbridge was ceded to Surrey Constabulary, thus losing Esher Police Station.

3. Faced with the increased need to maximise the effectiveness of the workforce a review was carried out of the available resources at the time including local consultation. This review identified a saving if the number of front offices open to the public were reduced. This would leave an operational station office in each sector, Kingston and Surbiton. The use of the front office at New Malden being lowest of the three stations, led to a decision to close.

4. New Malden Police Station is still being used. Initially, it was used for the Youth and Community Section and more recently by the South West London base for the Dogs Unit. The use of the station by the South West London Dogs unit has been favourably received, particularly by the local media and by the local Member of Parliament, Edward Davey. However, in recent months there has been pressure for New Malden front office to be re-opened.

5. More recently Mr Davey visited the police station and met the OCU Commander, where he proposed opening the front office with volunteers. The meeting was publicised in the local paper and it was agreed to explore this idea with the local community through the Police Sector Working Group.

6. The OCU Commander has tasked the Borough Liaison Officer to head a project team to research the feasibility of re-opening New Malden.

7. At this moment in time the issue is still at the consultation stage. There are a number of associated issues, which will have to be analysed by the project team prior to taking up this option:

• quantify the resource and capital expenditure of all options;
• assess the community needs and expectations;
• consult with the local community;
• identify and select suitable volunteers;
• evaluate other pilot sites within the MPS;
• prepare a robust business case for approval and present an implementation plan;
• deliver an agreed outcome.

8. A report appears elsewhere the agenda on the consultation for future arrangements at police stations.

9. As mentioned previously, there has been increasing pressure for the re-opening of the enquiry desk at New Malden Police Station as evidenced by the two petitions, which are to be presented to the Authority.

C. Financial implications

Should the enquiry desk at New Malden Police Station be re-opened any future cost would have to be considered within existing budgets.

D. Background papers

• MPS briefing note

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Nick Baker.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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