Concern About Police Facilities and Celebrating an Embassy Opening
Report back from Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick
Left: Andy Slaughter MP with Ambassador Husam Zumlot. Right: the Palestinian flag outside the new embassy
October 6, 2025
Last week, I met senior police officers to express concerns about the proposed closure of the front counter at Hammersmith Police Station and to talk about the appalling conduct of officers at Charing Cross exposed in the recent Panorama report.
Charing Cross will be the only 24/7 front counter in the West Area if Hammersmith closes but we also need to know that Hammersmith custody suite is being properly managed. When I met with officers, I also sought assurances following the terrible attacks on the synagogue in Manchester that all potential terrorist or extremist targets locally are receiving extra security and protection.
I recently attended The Upper Room quiz at Latymer Upper School which raised thousands for a brilliant local charity of which I am a Patron. The Upper Room provides help and advice for homeless and vulnerable people in West London.
Two weeks ago, Britain finally recognised Palestine as a state. More than 100 years after the Balfour declaration promised equal rights over the historic lands to Arabs and Jews, 75 years after Britain recognised the State of Israel and ten years after the House of Commons voted overwhelmingly for recognition.
Better late than never. And where better to celebrate the event than outside the newly designated Palestine Embassy in Hammersmith. On Monday 22 nd of September, in a cul-de-sac off King Street, hundreds of MPs and Peers, Ambassadors from across the globe and campaigners including many British Palestinians gathered to see the flag raised in front of the Embassy by Ambassador Husam Zumlot and Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer.
In Parliament, work as Chair of the Justice Committee continues to take a lot of my time, with ongoing inquiries, evidence sessions and visits to different branches of our justice system. We have new Lord Chancellor to scrutinise post-reshuffle, David Lammy. The Committee’s job will be to point out the challenges the Ministry of Justice is facing such as the embattled state of the probation service, which the government is asking to take on even more work.
Another substantial and long-awaited piece of justice legislation was published last week, the ‘Hillsborough Law’ designed to prevent the type of miscarriage of justice suffered for decades by the families of those killed in the Hillsborough tragedy.
It will introduce a ‘duty of candour’ to avoid the malpractice that led not only to Hillsborough but Grenfell, Horizon, Contaminated Blood and many more scandals from recent decades. The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, to give it its official title, will place a new legal duty on public servants to act truthfully and fully support investigations to ensure wrongdoing is not concealed and justice for victims is delivered. I spoke in a well-attended debate just before publication.
Parliament is currently in recess for party conference season and will return on the 13th of October.
Best wishes,
Andy
andy@andyslaughter.com
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