Closing Police Front Counter This Week Dismays Locals

Residents and business owners tell police it will increase crime

About thirty people attended a public meeting to discuss crime and the closure of the Chiswick Police station front counter. Several residents and business owners made their concerns about the potential for increased crime in W4, despite police assurances that statistics did not bear this out.

The station will no longer be open to the public to report crime from this week (14 December) although the building is still in use as a base for police officers from Hammersmith while work continues on a station there.

It is not known where local SNT officers in Chiswick will be based, as no 'hub' has yet been found for them to base themselves. Locations are still being sought, the meeting was told.

Inspector Jonathan Shard, who has responsibility for Chiswick attended the meeting, alog with Inspector Wayne Mathews and Inspector Dee O Connor. The police representatives reiterated the reasons given for closure of the front counter, that the numbers of crime reported on a daily basis did not justify the expense of keeping it open, in line with other closures of front counters throughout London. The public is being encouraged to report crime either online or by telephoning 101.

A member of the public pointed out that not everyone has access to a smartphone or to the internet, particularly the elderly.

The officers were keen to reassure the public that future arrangements for policing in the W4 area would be adequate.

Local councillors Sam Hearn and Gerald Mc Gregor were also at the meeting.

One local resident said that it was obvious that local people did not want the station to close and the community had real concerns. There had been an increase in anti social behaviour and crime, included moped crimes, and the closure of the front counter was a real loss.

December 9, 2017