21 September 2001

''OPEN HOUSE'' FOR HAMMERSMITH POLICE STATION

Metropolitan Police Authority Members Cindy Butts and Nicholas Long will be joining members of the public visiting behind-the-scenes areas of Hammersmith Police Station on Sunday 23 September.

Hammersmith Station will be opening its doors for ''London Open House'', an annual cultural event celebrating London''s architectural heritage. Designed in 1939 by Donald McMorran, the station is listed Grade II and will open its custody suite, conference room, offices and stable block.

Talking about the opening, Cindy Butts, MPA link member for Hammersmith and Fulham, said:

"I am very pleased that members of the public will have the chance to see behind-the-scenes of an operational London police station. It provides an opportunity for many people, a high proportion of whom may never have personally visited a police station before, to gain an insight into how our police operate."

Nicholas Long, link member for Lambeth and Chair of the MPA Estates Sub-Committee, said:

"I particularly welcome the opportunity to explore Hammersmith Police Station on Open House day. It is a building of exceptional architectural merit and reflects the progressive and varied design traditions of the Metropolitan Police. The MPA is keen to ensure that the highest standards of design are maintained in future building projects."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Hammersmith Police Station will be open on Sunday 23 September 2001 between the hours of 10:30 - noon and 14:00 - 16:30 for pre-booked tours. Full details are posted on the Open House website: http://www.londonopenhouse.org

2. London Open House is an annual event (now in its ninth year) giving access to over 500 buildings free of charge, many of them not normally open to the public. It is an architectural education charity, Registered Charity No. 1072104.

3. The Authority''s Members are: Anthony Arbour Jennette Arnold Reshard Auladin Richard Barnes John Biggs Cindy Butts Lynne Featherstone Nicky Gavron Lord Toby Harris Peter Herbert Elizabeth Howlett Darren Johnson Jenny Jones Nicholas Long Cecile Lothian R David Muir Eric Ollerenshaw Sir John Quinton Angela Slaven Richard Sumray Lord Graham Tope Abdal Ullah Rachel Whittaker