Local Police Stations (Hansard, 1 July 2003)

§ Bob Spink

I have a second petition—[Interruption.] Those sitting on the Treasury Bench seem to be laughing at my having a second petition, but it deals with a rather serious matter.

Last year, Canvey island police station was closed by the police without notice or consultation. I fought to get it reopened and, working as a team with local councillors and the Yellow Advertiser, we succeeded. Now, however, the station is more often closed than open, again without the consultation that I had formally requested being carried out. Such action brings the chief constable and the police into disrepute and destroys public confidence in the police.

The petition, which has been signed by almost 5,000 people but is supported by the entire Canvey population, states: To the Honourable Commons of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of Mrs Maureen Campbell, Mrs Margarette Robbins, Cllr Ray Howard and Cllr Tony Belford and others of like disposition sheweth. That there is deep concern across Castle Point regarding the opening of local police stations which have been increasingly closed to the public over recent years, and that this has reduced public access to and confidence in community policing and that residents on Canvey Island like those on the mainland want a transparent police for their local police station opening. Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House shall urge the Government to implore the Chief Constable to issue such a policy and will ensure that funding is available to maintain at previous levels, open police stations and in particular to re-open Canvey Island Police Station in order to help stop the crime and vandalism on Canvey Island. And your Petitions, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.