Belgravia Police Station by Lloyd Davis
Aren’t we lucky in Pimlico? We used to have an armed policeman – a permanent guard for our neighbour Michael Howard, a consequence of his role as Home Secretary during the Irish troubles. The policeman has long gone (Michael hasn’t).
We must live in the safest most crime free area of London, nevertheless dozens of police flood the streets of Pimlico – as they fan out from the massive Belgravia Police Station to patrol our unluckier neighbours (make sure you renewed your car’s tax disc though!).
Pimlico Neighbourhood Watch
Maybe it’s the Neighbourhood Watch scheme – Pimlico has always been a village in London, and looking out for each other comes as second nature.
I was prompted to reflect how lucky we are in our quiet crimeless village in the centre of London by the news that armed police are to start patrolling gun-crime hotspots. Armed Officers have begun pilot patrols in Tottenham Brixton and Haringey.
Metropolitan Police said it was a temporary response to a 17% rise in gun-crime over the past six months.
Tricky one this. I’m not sure I want the British bobby armed as a matter of course. But I recognise the need for an armed response in certain situations. So the current approach is about right.