Published: 13 July, 2012

• LAST month, the Tribune reported on plans to close Highbury Vale police station permanently and sell the site.

The move would see existing police at Highbury Vale police station – including four Safer Neighbourhoods teams – transfer to Holloway police station in Hornsey Road by the autumn.

The empty police station will then be sold on the open market, more than likely for housing.  

As the local councillors, Liberal Democrats have now asked the council to start discussions about what is planned for the site and we are asking residents for their views. 

The Tribune has reported recently on the huge controversy sparked by the council’s house-building programme so it is vital we get this right and take residents with us.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed to us that it spends nearly £200,000 a year on the rental of four offices in Islington for Safer Neighbourhoods teams, some of which are not even open to the public.

Islington is set to lose at least a fifth of its normal contingent of police officers during the Olympics, although exact figures have still to be confirmed. This news follows the Mayor of London’s decision to axe four Islington police sergeants.

We are now faced with the loss of one of Islington’s police stations, with no guarantee that any money from the sale of the Highbury Vale site will go back into policing in Islington. 

Hornsey Road police station is more than a mile away for Highbury residents.

Residents need to be reassured that these decisions will not leave us more vulnerable to crime and anti-social behaviour.

It is incredible that, while the Mayor is looking to cut the costs of the Metropolitan Police, he is wasting nearly £200,000 a year on renting offices in Islington for community policing that often aren’t even open to the public.

CLLR TERRY STACY
Leader, Islington
Liberal Democrats