New fears for future of Wimbledon police station

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

There are fresh fears over the future of Wimbledon police station four years after it was saved from closure.

A new police and crime plan published by London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s office hints at a strategy to concentrate on “fewer – but better – buildings.”

The campaign against closure was led by Merton councillor Paul Kohler, who believes his life was saved thanks to the police station being open.

Cllr Kohler was beaten up by burglars at his home in 2014. His daughter called the police who arrived within minutes and arrested four men.

In 2018 a Mayor of London decision to close the station was successfully challenged in the High Court, which led to the closure being halted.

Cllr Kohler now fears the police station’s future is “back in the balance” and the mayor’s police and crime plan could see more stations at risk.

The plan, published last week, said: “The mayor will continue to support the ambition of the MPS estate strategy to concentrate on fewer – but better – buildings.”

Cllr Kohler said: “I am yet again disappointed the Mayor of London has refused to commit to retaining Wimbledon police station, in spite of my representations highlighting how important the station is to the local area and community.”

Sophie Linden, the deputy mayor for policing, said: “There is an ongoing commitment from the previous public access strategy for a 24-hour police station in every borough.

“There are two boroughs where there are going to have to be decisions around that which are Merton and Barking and Dagenham and we will be looking at that. Whatever happens, we will have to go back out to public consultation.”

Ms Linden said she could not make any commitments “at the moment” around Wimbledon police station.

Pictured top: Wimbledon police station