Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete(RAAC) in police stations

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.032492

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. How many police stations does your force have?
2. Between 1 September 2013 and 1 September 2023, how many police stations has your force been made aware may contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), and on what date were concerns first raised?
3. In how many of these buildings have further investigations into RAAC been carried out?
4. How many of these buildings are still deemed potentially unsafe?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - How many police stations does your force have?

A Police Station is defined as an operational building with a Front Counter. We have 36 Front Counter buildings in the Metropolitan Police, however there is a much larger operational estate that is not publically accessible made up of both Freehold, Leasehold and Licensed properties which are not limited to Occupied operational properties, but also include residential and equipment sites.

Q2 - Between 1 September 2013 and 1 September 2023, how many police stations has your force been made aware may contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), and on what date were concerns first raised?

Of the 133 freehold properties the MPS identified 69 buildings on the MOPAC estate that were constructed between 1950 and 1997 when this product may have been used. Of the 69 sites, condition surveys were undertaken of 62 sites. Those surveyed do not identify RAAC and whilst surveys are not destructive or intrusive, RAAC is easily identifiable and no actions pertaining to RAAC have been identified.

Q3 - In how many of these buildings have further investigations into RAAC been carried out?

1 of the 69 sites (Gravesend) is a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) site and whilst Bouygues have ruled out RAAC in their initial review, they are currently carrying out further checks on site. The remaining 6 sites have been subject to a desktop review (as have the sites with condition surveys) to build confidence that the risk is low. From a review of plans, building types and recent construction projects, we have determined that we do not have RAAC in any of the properties reviewed.

Q4 - How many of these buildings are still deemed potentially unsafe?

There are no freehold buildings that are deemed potentially unsafe.