Wimbledon Police Station: our plan to work together blocked

Policing in Merton is about to be hit by a triple whammy: we could be losing Wimbledon Police Station, our borough commander and at least 15% of Merton's police officers. 

Councillor Paul Kohler is taking the Mayor to court to overturn his decision to close Wimbledon Police station, and last week he submitted a motion to Merton Council calling for a cross party working group to be established to urgently consider all aspects of policing in the borough. Whatever the outcome of the legal case, the working group would have provided a critical opportunity to determine how the borough is going to address the various threats currently confronting policing in Merton.

Unfortunately neither Labour nor the Conservatives supported the motion. Both argued that the Council’s existing  mechanisms are sufficient, even though the borough has been unable to prevent any of the cuts in policing that have occurred so far.

Speaking after the Council meeting Cllr Paul Kohler said:

"I am at a loss to understand how both the governing Labour party and the official Tory opposition can be so complacent, particularly on such an important issue as crime and safety in the borough. 

The council has to start taking law and order seriously, yet nether Labour, nor the Conservatives, show any genuine interest or concern. Time for a fresh start on policing in Merton. "