A THREE-month consultation to change the law and allow a police base on Wanstead Flats ends today.

The Home Office launched the 12-week public consultation on September 16 which asked for views on a temporary law change.

The Metropolitan Police wants to put a briefing centre on Wanstead Flats for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For that to happen the Home Office is required to temporarily amend the Epping Forest Act 1878, which governs the use of Wanstead Flats.

Wanstead Flats is part of Epping Forest and was selected by the Metropolitan Police as a location for one of three briefing centres that will be used during the Games, to deploy the estimated 10,000 officers that will be used on peak days.

The law change would be time limited to 120 days and specifically for the Olympic and Paralympic policing operation.

The Home Office said no lasting powers relating to Wanstead Flats or Epping Forest would be conferred on the police or any other bodies, and the Act would revert back to its full protection at the end of the period.

A spokesman for the Home Office said details of responses to the consultation will be collated from tomorrow and be released in due course.

Last month the Met submitted its planning application to use part of the land.

Objectors, who have held various demonstrations, say the base will damage the land and fear it will set a precedent for future development.

The proposal was lodged with Redbridge Council and the authority has the power to dismiss the plan.