Residents angry as City of London Police propose new base in housing estate
The City of London Police Eastern Base will take over six rental units inside Middlesex Street Estate, making up the majority of the residents' parking lot to regenerate the community space
Middlesex Street Estate estate will become an operational base for the City of London Police.
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The City of London police is planning to unveil a new plan for a base in East of the capital. The area is said to contain growing demand for more surveillance because of night time related offences and upcoming housing developments.
Under the CoLP’s new plan, the police base would be constructed under the podium of the Middlesex Street Estate, a communal space where residents to garden, host events, or play with their children. They are afraid access to these activities would be severely limited, with the space being torn down.
David, one of the 88 residents in the Middlesex Street estate, spoke to City News about the plan:
“Because in trying to make this building secure, it’s going to create some compromises and loss of amenities for residents. I think for the next few years there will be a lot of disruption. Obviously the construction, drilling through concrete walls, really you know, transforms the estate and that will be hard to live with. And then in future it’s actually going to make our lives a bit more inconvenient, both from going to and from the estate, we’re going to be largely using the basement area”
In 2000, now retired MET police superintended Bernie Gravett implemented the Safer Neighborhoods Community model around Church St Estate in Westminster. According to him, police presence on estates is only beneficial.
“I know from Church St. Estate we reduced the level of crime and anti-social behaviour in six months by 68%”, Bernie said.
“If we look at the Middlesex St. Estate, the crime levels are quite high. This is gonna be a foot patrol base. A team of dedicated police officers who will work from that base every day These are police officers that will be walking the estate and being available to the community to approach and talk. ”
The Estate’s basement lies directly below the podium
The City of London Corporation is proposing to redevelop part of the Estate’s basement, ground floor, and first floor car parks. They will become an operational base for the City of London Police, along with seven additional retail units on Gravel Lane. The podium garden space will also be repaired and refurbished as part of the redevelopment.
City News asked the City of London Police for a comment on the residents’ complaints, but they have not responded, leaving residents uncertain about what their doorstep will look like in the next few years.
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HeadlineResidents angry as City of London Police propose new base in housing estate
Short HeadlinePolice base proposal angers housing estate residents
StandfirstThe City of London Police Eastern Base will take over six rental units inside Middlesex Street Estate, making up the majority of the residents' parking lot to regenerate the community space
The City of London police is planning to unveil a new plan for a base in East of the capital. The area is said to contain growing demand for more surveillance because of night time related offences and upcoming housing developments.
Under the CoLP’s new plan, the police base would be constructed under the podium of the Middlesex Street Estate, a communal space where residents to garden, host events, or play with their children. They are afraid access to these activities would be severely limited, with the space being torn down.
David, one of the 88 residents in the Middlesex Street estate, spoke to City News about the plan:
“Because in trying to make this building secure, it’s going to create some compromises and loss of amenities for residents. I think for the next few years there will be a lot of disruption. Obviously the construction, drilling through concrete walls, really you know, transforms the estate and that will be hard to live with. And then in future it’s actually going to make our lives a bit more inconvenient, both from going to and from the estate, we’re going to be largely using the basement area”
In 2000, now retired MET police superintended Bernie Gravett implemented the Safer Neighborhoods Community model around Church St Estate in Westminster. According to him, police presence on estates is only beneficial.
“I know from Church St. Estate we reduced the level of crime and anti-social behaviour in six months by 68%”, Bernie said.
“If we look at the Middlesex St. Estate, the crime levels are quite high. This is gonna be a foot patrol base. A team of dedicated police officers who will work from that base every day These are police officers that will be walking the estate and being available to the community to approach and talk. ”
The Estate’s basement lies directly below the podium
The City of London Corporation is proposing to redevelop part of the Estate’s basement, ground floor, and first floor car parks. They will become an operational base for the City of London Police, along with seven additional retail units on Gravel Lane. The podium garden space will also be repaired and refurbished as part of the redevelopment.
City News asked the City of London Police for a comment on the residents’ complaints, but they have not responded, leaving residents uncertain about what their doorstep will look like in the next few years.
A report following an inspection on the force has revealed that the City of London Police needs to be bettered when it comes to 'gaps in understanding of the threat from crimes other than economic crime.'
