London Assembly Member Gareth Roberts Joins Campaign to Save Police Presence in Southwark

Liberal Democrat Gareth Roberts, who sits on the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee, has backed Southwark Liberal Democrats’ campaigns to save Canada Water police hub and the 24/7 police front counter in Walworth. 

In a video released by the Liberal Democrats, Gareth explains how Sadiq Khan is set to break a manifesto promise to have a 24/7 police front counter in every borough, with around three quarters set to close. Walworth is the last 24/7 counter in Southwark, and it has not yet been confirmed whether it will stay open in its current form. 

This comes off the back of the Liberal Democrats’ campaign to save the Canada Water police hub, which was evicted by the Labour Party from its former base in Seven Islands Leisure Centre. Residents had been promised that the police would set up a new hub on the Canada Water site, but both the Police and Council have failed to fulfil that promise. 

The latest funding review from the Labour Government was slammed for failing to provide enough funds for London policing to maintain presence across the capital, leading to hubs and counters in places like Rotherhithe and Walworth to be put at risk or closed entirely.  

Commenting, Gareth Roberts AM said:  

“Sadiq Khan has once again betrayed Londoners by breaking his promise to have a 24/7 counter in every borough. Crime in places like Southwark is getting out of control – whether it’s in City Hall or Labour-run councils, promises are being broken, and it’s not helping people to feel safe. 

We need a return to real community policing, and that starts with keeping existing police facilities open and accessible, and putting more bobbies on the beat. Liberal Democrats are fighting hard to keep our streets safe” 

Southwark Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain added: 

“Residents are tired of being let down by Labour politicians at every level of government. I’m proud that Liberal Democrats in Southwark and across London are leading campaigns to keep places like the Canada Water police hub and the Walworth front counter open.  

We need local residents to back our campaign by signing our petition to keep Walworth’s 24/7 front counter – the only one in Southwark – open.” 

Surrey Docks Liberal Democrat Councillor Adam Hood added: 

“People across Rotherhithe & Bermondsey are horrified at the Labour Mayor's lack of action in securing a police presence around Canada Water. The Liberal Democrats are demanding a permanent space is provisioned for the police in Rotherhithe. While the Labour party tie themselves in knots pretending this isn't a problem caused by their own London Mayor the Liberal Democrats are demanding the promise of a police hub in Rotherhithe is kept.  

With phone snatching and anti-social behaviour rampant across Rotherhithe, it's long overdue that the council, London Mayor and Labour government take this seriously and invest in our area instead of cutting back the police presence.”