A Croydon MP is “alarmed” by reports a secret Chinese police station is operating from the town’s high street.

Croydon Central MP Sarah Jones asked for assurances from the government that locals are safe after it was revealed the borough had one of two covert Chinese ‘police stations’ in London.

In the House of Commons on Tuesday (November 1), Ms Jones said: “I have to confess when I first received emails from constituents I thought this was some kind of hoax.

"It appears now the reality is much more alarming. I would ask for reassurance for the people of Croydon, and in particular the citizens from China and Hong Kong who live in my constituency that they will be safe.

“And perhaps he might agree to meet with me to talk about what may or may not be happening in the middle of my town.”

In response, security minister, Tom Tugendhat, said there was a committment to all citizens in the United Kingdom and he would meet with the Labour MP to discuss the issue.

During the debate, Mr Tugendhat said: “There is no place for those that abuse the liberties of this country in order to oppress citizens here.”

Ms Jones later tweeted: “Reports of a Chinese Police station on Croydon High Street are extremely worrying.

"I asked the Minister for assurances on the safety of my constituents from China and Hong Kong. I will be meeting him with urgently to discuss.”

The Times reported on October 27 that, Safeguard Defenders, a human rights organisation, said China’s “overseas service centres” span 30 countries in five continents.

It added that the two Chinese ‘police stations’ in London include one in Croydon and another in Hendon.

A British government spokesman told the Times: “Any foreign country operating on UK soil must abide by UK law.

"The protection of people in the UK is of the utmost importance and any attempt to illegally repatriate any individual will not be tolerated.”