Facility finally back in action after four year closure

Hammersmith Police Station. Picture: Kier

Hammersmith Police Station on Shepherd's Bush Road is finally set to reopen having been closed in 2016 for a major refurbishment costing a reported £59 million.

Over 1,000 officers and staff will be based at the site which the police describe as a state-of-the-art facility.

Hammersmith Police Station will now be the main policing hub for the west of Central West Basic Command Unit (BCU) and will include 38 custody cells and 18 improved and expanded stables to maintain the presence of mounted branch in the area.

It will also be the base for the area’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, Roads and Transport Policing Command, the Emergency Response Policing Team and CID, among others.

The station will also include a 24-hour front counter which is set to open on Tuesday, 29 September. The temporary front counter which has been in place at Shepherd’s Bush since 2016 will close on the same date.

Hammersmith Police station custody cells

Fulham Police Station was one of 37 London police stations that closed in 2017.

Despite the modernisation of the station, a significant part of the construction process was ensuring the character of the Grade II 1930s building was maintained.

This included opening up vaulted ceilings that had been covered up in the 1980s as well as refurbishing original flooring, period staircases and the site’s police lanterns.

An old arch which linked two of the buildings on site was dismantled brick by brick, with each brick cleaned and held in storage. It was then put back together to form a new arch, using old traditional mortar methods during the construction process.

Front counter at Hammermith Police Station

BCU commander Chief Superintendent Helen Harper, said, “We are delighted that Hammersmith is now ready for use and our staff have already started moving in.

“The refurbishment project has transformed an old, tired building into an amazing, modern, fit-for-purpose hub which will bring lots of our services together.

“This will mean our officers and staff can work together more easily and efficiently and provide the best possible service for our communities across the BCU.

“The building is located in the centre of Hammersmith, putting our officers at the heart of our communities.”

The existing public reception has also been upgraded to include an enlarged waiting area and two new triage counters.

Although the front counter at the station will be open from Tuesday, 29 September, the police are asking the public to continue to follow measures set out by the government and to use online or telephone services where possible.

There are a range of ways for the public to contact the police including online via their website, on the phone via 101 or 999 in the case of an emergency. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

September 15, 2020