Superintendent Dan Card, leading policing in Newham, conducted a media briefing this afternoon at the scene of the Forest Gate police station fire.
“Firstly, I would like to thank our London Fire Brigade (LFB) colleagues for their efforts to bring the fire under control, and those people living in the surrounding area for their cooperation while emergency services dealt with this significant scene.
I would like to reassure local people that despite the fire, our ability to deliver a policing service for Newham remains unaffected. Our local teams will continue to serve the community in the usual way and there will be no reduction in the service we deliver.
In the initial stages of the fire, my officers helped evacuate the building, leaving their kit and personal possessions behind in order to ensure that nobody was left inside. Despite having lost personal items in the fire, such as wedding rings and car keys, they went on to work beyond their shifts to support the emergency response and the relocation of our teams to other police stations. We continue to check on their welfare.
We have a well-rehearsed continuity plan in place for incidents such as this and overnight we saw an impressive response from our colleagues providing support services and replacement equipment.
Officers and staff that were based at Forest Gate have been diverted to work from other buildings in Newham and additional resources have been made available to support us as we transition to our various new locations.
The replacement of uniform and equipment began overnight and this will continue in the coming days.
Thanks to the fast work of officers and fire-fighters at the scene, police vehicles were removed from the rear yard at Forest Gate and they continue to be in operational service.
We are in close contact with our Met Detention colleagues and can confirm that there has been no impact on the availability of police cells for Newham.
Officers worked with LFB to protect and remove the evidence lockers and fridges containing priority forensic samples, and in the coming days, we will undertake an assessment of the exhibits and property that was stored in the building.
Anyone due to return on bail to Forest Gate Police station will be contacted and alternative arrangements will be made.
In due course we will reopen the front counter at Stratford Police Station to the public.
Once again, I thank you for your understanding and patience.
In a non-emergency situation please dial 101. In an emergency always dial 999.”
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