New era for Hammersmith Police Station as officers move back in following four-year refurbishment
More than 1,000 police officers and staff are beginning to move back into Hammersmith Police Station after its four-year regeneration project.
Hammersmith Police Station will now be the main policing hub for the west of Central West Basic Command Unit (BCU) and will include 38 custody cells and 18 improved and expanded stables to maintain the presence of the mounted branch in the area.
It will also be the base for the area’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, Roads and Transport Policing Command, the Emergency Response Policing Team and CID, among others.
The police station will also include a 24-hour front counter which is set to open on Tuesday, September 29. The temporary front counter which has been in place at Shepherd’s Bush since 2016 will close on the same day.
Despite the IT and digital technology upgrades, a significant part of the construction process was ensuring the character of the iconic Grade-II building was maintained.
This included opening up vaulted ceilings that had been covered up in the 1980s as well as refurbishing original flooring, period staircases and the site’s police lanterns.
An old arch which linked two of the buildings on site was dismantled brick by brick, with each brick cleaned and held in storage.
It was then put back together to form a new arch, using old traditional mortar methods during the construction process.
BCU commander Chief Superintendent Helen Harper said: “We are delighted that Hammersmith is now ready for use and our staff have already started moving in.
“The refurbishment project has transformed an old, tired building into an amazing, modern, fit-for-purpose hub which will bring lots of our services together.
“This will mean our officers and staff can work together more easily and efficiently and provide the best possible service for our communities across the BCU.
“The building is located in the centre of Hammersmith, putting our officers at the heart of our communities.”