MP Jon Cruddas has launched a campaign to fight the proposed closure of police stations within the borough.
Responding to the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) proposals to close Marks Gate, Dagenham and Barking stations, Mr Cruddas labelled them “totally unacceptable” and “sacrificing the safety of local communities”.
A petition to save Dagenham Police Station is now underway as the MP for Dagenham and Rainham enters talks with Borough Commander Andy Ewing and Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
Under the plans, policing in the borough would be centred in Barking, with the multi-million pound custody base at Fresh Wharf and a 24-hour desk at the Barking Learning Centre in the town square.
“The decision to close Dagenham Police Station is not, as far as I am concerned, a viable answer for anything – the government is sacrificing the safety of local communities for a 20 per cent saving,” said Mr Cruddas.
“These closures will leave much of Dagenham open to increased levels of crime.”
The closure plan comes as the Metropolitan Police tries to save £500million a year by selling 200 buildings, including New Scotland Yard, following a 20 per cent cut in government funding.
Meanwhile, Mr Cruddas also spoke of his “disappointment” over proposals to close the Broad Street walk-in centre in Dagenham.
He said: “I am completely against the proposed closure of the Broad Street walk-in centre.
“I think the closure will only exacerbate the problems we have had with local healthcare provisions.
“Following the recent CQC report on Queen’s Hospital in Romford, I would argue that this will only make the situation worse.
“Queen’s is already over capacity and its resources are being overstretched – the latest report highlighted this.
“The fact of the matter is that we need more investment and capacity in our local health service.”
• Visit http://bit.ly/W5oGr9 to for a copy of the petition to save Dagenham Police Station.
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