Celebrating 30 Years of the Irish Cultural Centre

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Report back from Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick

Andy Slaughter MP

July 28, 2025

The Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith celebrated its 30 th anniversary recently. Along with all those who've been part of its success, I joined in the celebrations at the Irish Embassy two weeks ago. The Irish government and Hammersmith and Fulham Council have been generous supporters of the centre, and this is proving to be their most ambitious year of events yet.

Residents have been raising significant concerns with me about crime and ASB around Uxbridge Road and Shepherd's Bush Green, and local Police have responded by putting more resources into policing Uxbridge Road. Now there will also be extra help from the Met centrally through its recently announced 'Safer Streets Summer Initiative'.  Through this initiative, Shepherds Bush Green has been identified as an area facing challenges with anti-social behaviour and street crime. As such, over the summer there will be increased police patrols, plain-clothed operations and directed targeting of offenders committing multiple offences, particularly shoplifting and ASB. 

I am disappointed by plans to close police station front counters, including the one at Hammersmith, leaving Charing Cross as the only police station in central London with a 24/7 front desk service. 

Acton Police Station will maintain a 24/7 front desk service, which is convenient for some residents in Chiswick and Shepherds Bush. I spoke to the Chiswick Calendar about these changes to police stations in the area. 

The reasons for the closures are partly financial, but the Police argue that only 5% of crimes are reported at front counters, with the overwhelming majority of incidents being reported by phone or online. Given this, the Met has taken the decision to prioritise having officers out patrolling the streets rather than staffing front desks. 

In Parliament last week, at a meeting of the Liaison Committee, made up of select committee chairs, I had my first opportunity to join in the detailed questioning of the Prime Minister.

I pursued two lines of questioning on domestic justice policy, the first on the previous government's cuts to legal aid and their effect on access to justice, the second dealt with the work the government needs to do to reduce reoffending by ensuring that prisoners and those released from prison receive proper rehabilitation. 

I was also able to ask a series of questions as to why the government has not taken stronger action on the horrific situation in Gaza. Following that meeting, I was also able to raise this with the Foreign Secretary during his statement on the Middle East. 

The Justice Committee published its report last week on the crisis in the County Courts. We found that the County Court is a dysfunctional system, that has failed to adequately deliver civil justice across England and Wales. You can read my comments and more about the report here.

Last Monday, I was delighted to welcome a group of young Saharawi refugees to Parliament. The children were born in refugee camps in Algeria following the displacement of their parents and grandparents from Western Sahara by Morocco and were visiting the UK as part of a programme organised by the charity Sandblast, which works to support and advocate on behalf of the indigenous people of Western Sahara. 

The children spoke to me about their lives in the refugee camp and were full of questions about life in the UK and my work as an MP. The group were so polite and engaged, and I was very humbled to receive gifts of tea and other items from their home. 

Parliament is now in recess for the summer and will sit again on the 1st of September.

Best wishes,

Andy

andy@andyslaughter.com

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