Metropolitan Police SCOTLAND YARD TO CLOSE.......

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_05_2013/post-6209-0-22146300-1368987473.jpgclick

I have just read on the Internet Mail (The Daily Mail is one of the top Daily newspapers in Britain ) that arrangements

are being made to sell New Scotland Yard. They mentioned a price of 150 million pounds. The plan seems to be that the

new HQ will be back on the Embankment and near to the Ministry of Defence - but, in a much smaller existing building.

They also are saying that dozens of existing Police Stations will be closed and the land sold.

Finally, the land owned by the Metropolitan Police around the Police College at Hendon is to be sold to build 2000

houses. The College will - apparently, remain.

How do you sell off the World known Scotland Yard - which was built in 1967. When it moved at that date it was from

the original Scotland Yard from where the Met. was first established. Many smaller Police Stations have already been converted to daytime opening - they have a phone in a box so you can call for help................

What happened to the concept of a major Police Force being there to assist the Public - does everything have to come

down to money ? Having sold these assets, the money will be swallowed-up quickly - however, the traditions

and service will have gone.

Our Army - Navy and Airforce have already suffered terrible cutbacks - and all of this from a Conservative Government.

Perhaps it is time we stopped financial aid to places like India and Zimbabwe ?

May I suggest that if you live in Britain - particularly in London - that you protest to your MP.

[Chris Boonzaier]

But Scotland Yard is scotland yard no matter where it is isnt it? It does not refer to the building? I think there is alao a problem, all govts try to lower taxes to get elected.... then the voters wonder why the Govt closes things down.... :-)

[Robin Lumsden]

It may sound simplistic, but everything boils down to these bl00dy pre-2008 bankers.

Police, Health Service, Armed Forces, pensions, wages ........................... EVERYTHING is being cut to fill the gaping financial hole left by these to$$ers.

The government should have screwed them into the ground when they had the chance, i.e. saved the banking system but nationalised the banks.

Now we have the worst of all possible worlds.

[219PG]

Mervyn

I'm afraid the Met (and the London Fire Brigade) is going through some of the biggest changes in recent years to save money - The new London Police Model is to put in place soon and many stations are being closed (section houses and police married quarters have long gone) and shift systems changed - to enforce changes a new fast track officer class has just been recruited.The guys now work out of shops & Industrial estates on the pretext of being closer to the community -

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The plan for 2013-16 says changes to the Metropolitan police's estate - which has almost 500 buildings - will save £60m in running costs.

The plan notes the number of crimes reported at front counters has dropped by 100,000 since 2006/7, and the majority of people report crime over the phone.

Each borough will have a front counter open every day for 24 hours and 94 "contact points" will be open a minimum of three times a week.

Of the 63 front counters being closed, 34 of the buildings will be kept and 29 sold.

Continue reading the main story

A further 15 police stations are said to be unsuitable in the long-term and may also be sold once alternatives can be provided, including Barking, Ealing, Chelsea, Tottenham and Chingford.

Under a new local policing model, safer neighbourhood teams will focus on clusters of wards, Local Police Areas.

Each ward will have its own dedicated police constable, but now only one dedicated police community support officer.

The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) has been set priorities which it will be held to account on.

These are reducing key neighbourhood crimes (including burglary and vandalism) by 20%, cutting costs by 20% and boosting public confidence by 20%.

Deputy mayor for policing, Stephen Greenhalgh, said despite having to find significant savings, the plan would "allow Londoners to reconnect with the Met, and the Met to reconnect with Londoners".

[219PG]

Oh and I forgot to mention that over half of the Hendon Police college estate is to be sold also !!!

[Robin Lumsden]

Sad times.

On reflection, final salary index-linked retirement doesn't seem like a bad thing.

Thank God I got out about 7 seconds before the banking crisis of 2008 kicked in.

[Robin Lumsden]

I'm afraid the Met (and the London Fire Brigade) is going through some of the biggest changes in recent years to save money.

Same story up here.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2012/8/contents/enacted

They've even changed the Oath, to be more 'PC'.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Thankyou for that extra info. on the report. I am afraid whatever 'spin' is put on the cuts - they are still just that. The Police are becoming

more distant from their communities - and that cannot be a good thing. Mervyn

Robin - what has been the effect of the mergers in Scotland - or, is it too soon to be able to tell ?

[Robin Lumsden]

Hello Mervyn.

Service to the community is pretty much unchanged. Forces have disappeared, but the local cops are still the same.

However, staff morale (esp. civvies) has gone through the floor, apparently.

Many redundancies and uncertainties.

As for the officers, they have to work for much longer (10 years in some cases) for a smaller pension. So ......... 10 years more of paying into the pension scheme, and 10 years less drawing out of it.

As you can guess, that has gone down like a lead Zeppelin.

Image driving a panda car at age 60.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Robin Lumsden

[Mervyn Mitton]

This story was way back in 2013 .  I haven't heard or, seen any reports  -  has the Yard been moved  ?   Please can someone up-date on the latest changes.    Mervyn

[MetPolice]

Mervyn, 

The Yard hasen't moved yet! Probably in the next couple years. The last I heard was they they were planning to move to the Curtis Green Building (still in construction). 

In case members are wondering, the recent news articles about the Crime Museum at the Museum of London, onlyc. 500 exhibits are being LENT for a temp. exhibition from October to March(?). 

Zeb

[Mervyn Mitton]

Hi Zeb.  Thankyou for the up-date.  I expect the Commissioner will soon be running things from his lounge.........