Teddington police station is due to be closed down and sold off by the Met, Nub News has learned.

London Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden, has given formal notice that the Met Police are closing and selling the station.

Twickenham MP Munira Wilson alerted residents to the news in a post on her website yesterday (17 August), stating she had received a letter from Linden giving notice last week.

Police officers are reportedly planning to move out of the station by the August bank holiday.

Local concerns

Teddington resident Alex Pegna told Nub News she is concerned about plans to close and sell off the station.

"I feel it will alter our crime statistics quite a lot," she said.

"It's a hub, it's been there for years.

"I don't think we need more development in Teddington. We've got the Elleray Hall plans, Park Lane Stables, the flats by Teddington railway bridge.

"They are trying to be clever about it, it's been kept quiet - people aren't aware of what's going on."

Alex says she is worried about reduced foot patrols in the area and longer response times to incidents if the station closes.

Many of the officers at the station specialise in tackling youth crime, she added, which is a rising problem in Teddington - in May this year a teenager was stabbed at Teddington Lock and there has been increasing reports of anti-social behaviour there.

What our MP says

Teddington MP Munira Wilson also criticised the plans.

"Now is not the time to fully close Teddington Police Station and sell it to the highest bidder," she said in a post on her website.

"Once a public building is lost to the community, it is almost impossible to replace.

"There is real concern from local residents about crime in the Teddington area. A particular focus is needed on Teddington Lock.

"I recently contacted the Borough Commander to request additional police patrols of the area during peak times.

"With police numbers finally rising again I urge the Mayor to pause this decision and re-assess the needs of Teddington."

Wilson noted that last month there were 70 crime reports in Teddington, with theft and violence against the person the most common crimes recorded.

She acknowledged that police officer numbers fell between 2016 and 2018 which is why the decision was taken to close the police counter at Teddington station.

But, she added, "officer numbers are now rising again, and Teddington Police Station could be used as a base to increase police numbers on the streets of Teddington."

She concluded: "The sale of the site is a money grab by the Mayor and the needs of Teddington residents should be put first."

Background to the plans

London's Metropolitan Police service now has just 36 stations after losing 106 and gaining £1bn from the sales, The Week reported in March this year.

In a Q&A on the Mayor's website Sadiq Khan's office defended the cuts, which they put down to government budget cuts and changes in how people use police stations.

"The Government has cut police budgets severely - the Met has had to find £600 million in savings since 2010, and must save a further £400 million by 2021," they wrote.

"These cuts have forced the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, to make some very difficult decisions to prioritise public safety and protect officers on the beat.

"People don't use police stations the way they once did. In 2016, just eight per cent of crimes were reported at police front counters, down from 22 per cent in 2006.

"Rather than make further cuts to frontline policing, the Mayor has taken the very tough decision to close several front counters, and sell some police buildings."

The Mayor's office stated that 38 front counters will close but a 24/7 police front counter will remain open in every London borough.

Savings from the closures will be put towards restoring real neighbourhood policing and they claimed the Mayor is "on track to deliver an extra dedicated police officer in every neighbourhood ward this year.

"These officers will be based at new hubs in their local neighbourhoods and hold community sessions every week."

The Mayor's office said it had held a consultation on the changes in which 4,000 Londoners submitted their views, which were carefully considered.

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