Labour politicians are rushing to get local police stations closed, even before consultation on their future has been completed. The Greater London Assembly is seeking views on whether Rotherhithe, Streatham, East Dulwich, Cavendish Road (Clapham) and Camberwell police stations should go. But Lambeth and Southwark's Labour London Assembly Member has already backed closure - before her own constituents got a chance to have a say.
"Residents in these areas of Lambeth and Southwark are rightly worried about the planned closures. They fear a reduced local police presence and longer waits for emergency call-outs," said local Lib Dem GLA candidate Caroline Pidgeon.
"But the area's Labour politicians are already saying the Police Stations must close, even before the police authority's consultation has ended. They should be fighting for police in our area - not trying to rush through closures like these."
The Metropolitan Police Authority plan is to centralise borough policing away from areas like Streatham, Dulwich, Clapham and Rotherhithe. These stations will either be completely closed, or replaced only by a new "front desk", which would be staffed only by junior officers and closed outside office hours.