Difficult night after police station fire, says Met commander

Hundreds of police officers and staff worked through the night to ensure "normal policing" continued after a major fire at a London police station.

About 175 firefighters and 30 engines attended the station in Forest Gate from about 16:00 GMT on Wednesday.

London Fire Brigade said the fire had left the roof "completely destroyed".

Met Police Cdr Kyle Gordon said it had been "a difficult night" for officers and staff, "many of whom have lost their workplace" and possessions.

About 60 people were evacuated from the building and no injuries were reported.

Forensic evidence stored in lockers and fridges has been removed by officers and firefighters and will be assessed in the coming days.

Speaking at a media briefing, Supt Dan Card explained staff had "lost personal items in the fire, such as wedding rings and car keys".

He said many had worked "beyond their shifts to support the emergency response".

Four long turntable ladders were deployed to help tackle the fire from above, while drones were used to give firefighters a better view

The fire brigade said an investigation into the cause of the fire, which started on the third floor, might be "protracted", while police said the blaze was not being treated as suspicious.

The Met said the force was continuing to provide a "full police service" to local communities, with a combination of local units and support from London-wide teams.

While the station is closed, police say anyone due to return there on bail will be contacted and informed of alternative arrangements.

They say they also intend to reopen the front counter at Stratford Police Station to the public.

Cdr Gordon added: "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."

Firefighters worked to protect "essential police property" from the fire, the fire brigade says

He said: "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."

The Met said it was using other buildings as patrol bases and redeploying teams from neighbouring communities.

Officers are also being provided with replacement equipment.

Firefighters say the police station's roof has been completely destroyed

Firefighters from Stratford, Leytonstone, Plaistow and other nearby stations were sent to help local crews.

London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: "This was a challenging incident for firefighters as the fire was located in the roof of the police station.

"Throughout the incident, a concern for our crews was the possibility of the fire spreading to adjacent properties.

"Thanks to their hard work we were able to prevent that from occurring, and the fire was limited to the police station."

Specialist fire investigators would now begin an investigation into the cause, he added.

"Due to the scale and nature of the incident, this is may be a protracted investigation."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]