The Newham police station has been badly damaged and officers are scattered without their equipment but the Met says patrols and normal operations in East London will continue
New photos of a fire at an East London police station show a raging inferno ripping through the building as it's revealed the many officers may have lost personal possessions. The fire started at around 4.15pm on Wednesday (March 6) and has destroyed the mansard roof of Forest Gate Police Station in Newham.
Hundreds of Met Police officers and staff have been working through the night to ensure a normal policing service continues whilst dealing with the impact of the blaze, the cause of which is still under investigation. London Fire Brigade, Newham Council and other partners have been working with police.
Romford Road remains closed on Thursday morning (March 7) and is likely to stay shut until the afternoon due to the complexity of the fire and aftermath. A Met spokesperson said the force "continues to provide a full police service to our communities with a combination of local units and support from London-wide teams".
READ MORE: Forest Gate police station fire sees 175 firefighters battling flames for over 6 hours
Officers based at Forest Gate have been severely affected with many unable to access their police equipment and personal possessions, and it's unclear what has been destroyed in the fire. Replacement equipment is being sourced from alternative stores, other buildings are being used as patrol bases and teams from neighbouring areas are being redeployed.
Commander Kyle Gordon, who is overseeing the recovery operation, said: "We know Newham residents may be concerned but I want to reassure them our local teams continue to provide a full service to keep them safe. This was a difficult night for Met officers and staff, many of whom have lost their workplace and face uncertainty about their possessions but thankfully no-one based at Forest Gate Police Station was hurt. This shows just how well the Met family and partners can support each other during a really challenging time and I would like to say thank you to everyone involved."
See below for a selection of photos showing how fierce the fire was at its height.
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