Stephen Kearney: Henley needs a full-time police station

5.53.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 13th Jun 2008

Stephen Kearney and Chris Huhne at Henley Police Station

On a visit to Henley Police Station, Liberal Democrat candidate in the Henley by-election, Stephen Kearney, and Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne, called for local residents to get a full-time police station.

Currently, Henley Police Station only opens between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Fridays, leaving residents without anywhere to go in the evening and at weekends.

Even when the police station is open, there are no facilities for arrests to be made, so criminals have to be taken all the way to Reading or Maidenhead.

Commenting, Stephen Kearney said:

"This Government is wasting billions of pounds on a wasteful ID Cards system, yet there's no money to pay for a full-time police station for local residents.

"As Henley's MP, I will fight to have ID Cards abolished, and get the money spent on front-line policing, where it can really make a difference.

"The Government should also get rid of all the unnecessary forms which leave many police officers stuck behind desks rather than being out on the beat tackling crime."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne, said:

"Stephen Kearney is clearly very dedicated to helping local residents fight crime and disorder. He will do an excellent job standing up for local residents in Parliament."