LEWISHAM’S top cop has welcomed a Met shake-up which will see police stations axed in Lewisham and Greenwich.

Boris Johnson’s controversial, cost-cutting Police and Crime Plan aims to save money by shutting police buildings and putting more bobbies on the beat.

In Lewisham, it means Sydenham police station's front counter will be closed, with Brockley losing its volunteer-led front counter and Catford and Deptford police stations downgraded to a daytime only service.

In Greenwich borough, Woolwich police station will fold, with Greenwich losing its front counter as well as the day time service at Thamesmead.

But Lewisham borough commander Chief Superintendent Russell Nyman, who oversaw similar changes in Kent, says he feels "positive" and is confident "Team Lewisham" can handle it.

He told News Shopper: "I would want - and I am sure the public would want - police officers to be on the ground where people can see them rather than in police stations.

"I have done it before albeit in Kent. I have that experience before me and we are confident we can do this and provide a better service.

"This is a hugely challenging policing environment but we are up to it - Team Lewisham are really motivated to do the very best we can."

Mr Nyman says that while he understands people's concerns about police station closures there will be an increased number of officers in the borough who will be moved around in a more "flexible" way.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams will continue to work out of Sydenham and Brockley police station buidlings  for the time being.

Lewisham and Greenwich will also have five contact points each for non-urgent, face-to-face meetings with their local policing teams - with locations and timings subject to review.

Chief Supt Nyman said: "Not that many people use police stations.

"The issue is - can police officers get to the place where they can do their duty? It does not matter which station they go from."

Police contact points will be open to the public from 7pm to 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays and on Saturday afternoons from 2pm to 3pm.

Greenwich contact points: 

- Thamesmead Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) base, in Joyce Dawson Way

- 49 Lakedale Road SNT base, Plumstead

- 60 William Barefoot Drive SNT base, Eltham,

- Greenwich Police Station

- A mobile police station will also be deployed to Woolwich town centre on Saturdays from 12pm to 2pm and Greenwich on Sundays from 12pm to 2pm.

Lewisham contact points

- Catford Hill Police Station

- Blackheath Train station

- Deptford’s Albany Theatre

- Sainsbury’s in Southend Lane, Sydenham

- Torridon Road Post Office.