Residents warn a ‘permanent police presence’ is needed to combat fears of gang violence

By Julia Gregory, local democracy reporter

Residents have warned of the need for a “permanent police presence” in North Kensington over fears about violence and gangs.

The concerns come as the future of a temporary police counter – which opened in Ladbroke Grove after the Grenfell Tower disaster – looks uncertain.

Police are planning to sell the entire Notting Hill station, after shutting the front counter in 2019 as part of wide-ranging police esatte cuts.

The council has however designated it an asset of community value and wants to take it over.

Claire van Helfteren, who chairs the police Independent Advisory Group in the borough said: “A police presence is critical.”

She told Kensington and Chelsea Council she was really concerned about the impact.

“The gang tensions in the north of the borough are extremely high currently, with the famous Portobello Market and the annual Notting Hill Carnival, plus the legacy of the Grenfell tragedy. This area has unique needs and a police presence is critical to the community.”

“The sale of Notting Hill police station and the closure of the police counter at Royalty Studios means there will not be a visible police presence in North Kensington.”

The move will mean the only police station with a 24/7 front counter will be in Earl’s Court Road.

Ms van Helfteren recently joined the police’s Territorial Support Group on a night shift policing the neighbourhood and it helped highlight to her the vital importance of having police on the ground.

“Within two hours we had stopped a number of vehicles and a vehicle containing two individuals who were clearly involved in the sale of drugs in North Kensington,” she said.

“One of the individuals was taken to Royalty Studios in order to carry out a strip search. If this had not been possible the carrier would have had to travel to Hammersmith or Charing Cross, thus taking valuable police officers off the streets, an asset that is clearly needed on our streets.”

She asked the council to work together to ensure MOPAC keeps a police presence in North Kensington.

Catherine Faulks, Kensington and Chelsea Council’s lead on economy, employment and business said: “North Kensington already experiences a higher volume of violent crime and anti-social behaviour and I am concerned that any time taken to reach an incident will risk lives.”

Emma Will who is lead member for community safety said: “We cannot go on with what is happening with our two police stations. We have been in a state of suspended animation for two years.”

She said the council had not heard any more about a consultation on the future of policing in the area.

Mo Bakhtiar, who leads the Labour opposition said: “It’s about our communities. We need to make our residents and our communities as safe as possible.”

Councillor David Lindsay, who represents Norland ward in North Kensington wants the police base at Royalty Studios to stay until 2024.

He pointed out that Brompton and Hans Town ward had the highest crime rate pre-pandemic with criminals preying on the thousands of visitors to the Natural History, V&A and Science museums.

In July 2019 there were 422 crimes – with 91 close to South Kensington Tube.

Notting Dale councillor Judith Blakeman said: “Gang issues are getting worse.”

She added that the 11,000 residents who were traumatised by the Grenfell Tower tragedy also need a police base.

“Just because it happened four years ago doesn’t mean it has got better, for a lot of people it has got worse,” she explained.

A Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime spokesman said: “No decision has been made on the future of the front counter at Royalty Studios – it remains open and is under review, in full consultation will take place with the local community.”