Police station closure consultation was 'half-hearted'

5:27pm Thursday 24th July 2008

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A consultation on plans to close Kingston and Surbiton police stations has been branded “half-hearted” after only one person commented on the proposals.

The controversial scheme which has seen huge opposition in other London boroughs would see “old-fashioned” police stations replaced with counters in shopping centres, school, hospitals, churches or council buildings and a warehouse-style building on an industrial estate.

“If the police wish to take the public seriously they have got to make sure they fully informed and don't go into it in a half-hearted way.

Edward Davey

Only one person responded to the three-month consultation which started in November.

A meeting held in February saw a low turnout with only 20 of the borough’s 155,000 residents attend.

Kingston and Surbiton MP Edward Davey, who had not heard about the consultation until told by the Comet, said: “The fact that only one person responded to the consultation should be a cause of alarm and make them reflect on the total inadequacies of the consultation.

"The fact that I and others had not been aware suggests that the authorities this is a consultation they were trying to hide.

“If the police wish to take the public seriously they have got to make sure they fully informed and don't go into it in a half-hearted way."

Borough commander Chief Superintendent Laura Nicholson said: "It is unfortunate that the only context put on the consultation is in terms of the number of written responses."

She listed the meetings which the closure of the police stations had been discussed which included the Independent Advisor Group, the Kingston Community and Police Partnership (KCPP) where "questions were asked and answers given".

She added: "Our commitment is to keep people updated and to listen and respond to their views."

The MPA has since announced that a second consultation will take place.