Caroline Pidgeon has set out in a letter to the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime a number of concerns with plans to close some police stations and put more reliance in technology.
In particular, Caroline says:
The plan is lacking in detail and many residents have serious concerns about the scope and extent of the Mayor’s police closure plans. These need to be properly addressed.
Police stations are local landmarks and a reassuring presence on many of our high streets. Their depletion will only retain the confidence of the public if other methods of communication used to contact the police are suitable. This is currently not the case. ...Despite the success of the Met website, it is important that the potential for digital improvements to assist police officers in their duties is not overstated. The Met has a history of difficulties in rolling out technology, with numerous police IT projects over budget and behind schedule. That is why all digital upgrades should be rolled out and fully operational before police stations are sold. ...
I was disappointed by the consultation’s efforts to explain how the police will interact with elderly and disabled people who feel unable to utilise technological advances. The Met police resources available to engage with people with disabilities is minimal and their dispatch software is unable to incorporate disability identification schemes, such as Pegasus. If the Mayor removes easily identifiable public facing police stations from our high streets, then the Met needs to ensure that Safer Neighbourhood Teams are fully aware of the challenges that many in their neighbourhood experience. ...
I hope that the Mayor will reconsider his police station and front counter closure plans and work with Londoners to help shape the Met going forward.