Streatham police station could be sold and replaced by a "police shop" manned by civilians, under proposals from the Met.

The dilapidated station in Streatham High Road, which opens 24 hours a day, is in desperate need of repair, with officers holding meetings in portable huts.

Under the Met's estate strategy, officers in police response teams would be stationed at patrol bases away from the high street and residents would report crimes to staff at a front desk likely to be located in Streatham High Road.

There would also be a single custody centre holding all prisoners which would currently be kept in the borough's police stations.

But Liberal Democrat Councillor Ashley Lumsden said people were concerned about their access to trained officers.

"If you have a problem with crime, you want to talk to a police officer - not a civilian member of staff," he said. "And we don't even know what times during the day the front-desks will be open."

And Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman Chris Nicholson said that, in light of traffic problems, it would be a mistake to base police response teams away from Streatham's main streets.

Niall O'Mara, who lives in Angles Road, thought people would not be confident to report crimes to civilians. "I think people may report crime less because they would suspect officers wouldn't find out about the incidents," he said. "This could lead more people to call 999 unnecessarily."

But John Roberts, the Metropolitan Police Authority's (MPA) link member for Lambeth, said the new plan would keep victims separate from perpetrators when reporting crime.

"We don't need skilled officers to sit behind a desk taking reports," he said. "We need people who can type and fill in the reports quickly. This will put police officers back on the streets, which is what people say they want."

He said the front-desk "police shops" would be more accessible to the public than the current station, which he insisted would not close until alternative facilities were set up.

He urged residents to take part in the on-going consultation about the scheme.

Streatham MP Keith Hill added: "If the police can find other nearby premises for their offices and vehicles which improve the speed and efficiency of their service so much the better."

Visit mpa.gov.uk/issues/estate to comment on the plan for Lambeth.