The Metropolitan Police has announced controversial plans to axe almost half of its front station desks. Bosses say the difficult decision was made as part of an overall effort to save £260m per year.
It means Hammersmith, Tottenham and Wimbledon will be among the 18 places where Londoners will no longer be able to report crimes in person. The proposals mean front counters will remain open at 20 police stations across the capital.
Croydon South MP Chris Philp slammed the announcement, claiming the police will be less accessible to the public and it would make London less safe.
This breaks a previous pledge from the Met to have one front counter open in each of the 32 boroughs 24 hours a day.
An extraordinary meeting is being held at City Hall today (Wednesday, August 6) where Met Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist and Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Sadiq Khan’s deputy mayor for policing and crime, will face scrutiny.
South West London will particularly be hit by these plans which include front desk closures in Twickenham, Merton, Wimbledon, Lavender Hill (Clapham Junction) and Mitcham. Despite backlash, the Met said only five per cent of crimes were reported at a front desk over the past year, with the vast majority carried out over the phone, online, or in person with officers elsewhere.
A spokesperson added: “Given the Met’s budget shortfall and shrinking size, it is no longer sustainable to keep all front counters open.
“That’s why we have taken the tough choice to pursue some closures and a reduction in hours – allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London.”
Full list of police stations set to lose their front desks
- Kentish Town
- Tottenham
- Edmonton – replaced by Wood Green
- Harrow
- Bethnal Green
- Dagenham
- Chingford
- Kensington
- Hammersmith
- Twickenham
- Lavender Hill
- Wimbledon
- Hayes
- Plumstead
- Barking Learning Centre
- Church Street (Westminster)
- Royalty Studios (Kensington and Chelsea)
- Mitcham.
The 20 police station front desks which will remain open
- Romford
- Charing Cross
- Acton
- Brixton
- Lewisham
- Bromley
- Sutton
- Islington
- Wembley
- Colindale
- Stoke Newington
- Ilford
- Forest Gate – Stratford will remain as temporary front counter until Forest Gate reopens
- Kingston
- Hounslow
- Walworth
- Bexleyheath
- Croydon
- Wood Green – currently closed as front counter but proposed to re-open
- Pinner – is a volunteer site opening limited hours and will remain.
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