A POLICE station has been closed to the public because a member of staff went on holiday.


There are fears that Woodford Police Station in High Road, Woodford Green, could be shut permanently as the Met looks to dramatically cut costs.

And now a lack of resources has prompted Redbridge Police to close the station's front desk after a worker took annual leave.

Chief Inspector Clive Darvill, who is in charge of safer neighbourhoods teams, said the station is usually closed when the reception officer takes a holiday.

He said: "Station reception officers carry out a specific role and rather than taking an officer off the street, we close the station.

"I would much rather have more officers on the street, than at a front desk.

"There are ample opportunities for members of the public to visit other police stations in the area."

But Geoff Stimpson, a retired police officer and Woodford Green Amenity Society society member, described the situation as "ludicrous".

He said: "The station is like getting into Fort Knox when it is open, anyway. I have never noticed it closed in the past.

"You would have thought they would have got someone to man the front desk, rather than closing the station. That is the way things are going though.

"It is ludicrous, but with cutbacks it does not surprise me.

"There are a lot of rumours circulating about Woodford Police Station closing and this doesn't help."

Monkhams Ward Cllr Jim O'Shea, along with his ward colleagues, organised a petition to save Woodford police station from closure last summer.

He said: "This is the first I've heard of (the closure). What is the point of having a police station if the public can't access it?

"It is a closure of stealth, with the public and local councillors not being made aware.

"I haven't got a lot of confidence that it will stay open at the moment."

The future of the police station was thrown into doubt last year when plans were revealed to move all four safer neighbourhood teams to Barkingside.

Concern intensified when a plan emerged in May to move vital communication equipment from the roof of the station to a nearby fire station.

No-one will be available to deal with the public at the station until July 30.

The nearest alternative station is in Wanstead.

The Met must save £537million by 2015.

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