London MPs angered by Metropolitan Police plans to close half its front desks to save money have written to the Home Secretary demanding that she fully commits to funding the force.
Yvette Cooper was warned “further cuts only put another nail in the coffin of community policing”.
If the number of counters is reduced from 37 to 19, it will break Scotland Yard’s pledge to have one accessible 24 hours a day in each of the capital’s 32 boroughs.
In a desperate attempt to balance a £260 million budget shortfall, leaked plans show only eight front desk will remain open 24/7, and there are to be reduced hours at 11 with them closing at 10pm weekdays and 7pm weekends.
In south west London, it means residents cannot walk in and speak to an officer face-to-face if Twickenham, Merton, Wimbledon, Lavender Hill and Mitcham lose theirs.
There are also concerns those on bail will have to travel miles to report as part of conditions increasing the risk a defendant might abscond.
Kingston police station’s opening hours are likely to be reduced meaning the nearest 24-hour counter to Richmond will be Acton, Sutton or Lambeth.
Amid an epidemic of knife crime, mobile phone snatches, shoplifting and bike theft across London, Cooper was told the cuts “caused significant worry for our constituents”.
The letter is written by Lib Dem MP for Twickenham Munira Wilson, her Kingston and Surbiton colleague and party leader Sir Ed Davey, Richmond Park’s MP Sarah Olney, Paul Kohler, who represents Wimbledon, and Richmond-upon-Thames Council boss Gareth Roberts, a London Assembly member.
It reads: “First and foremost, we must recognise the brilliant service provided by our local police officers who work incredibly hard to keep our community safe.
“Yet, we know that years of underfunding and cuts to community policing under previous Conservative Governments, combined with a crisis in recruitment and retention of staff, have taken their toll.
“Further cuts only put another nail in the coffin of community policing.
“We cannot understate the importance of these front desks for community policing.
“Being able to go into the local police station is a crucial element of frontline policing, not only providing practical assistance for victims of crime, but also providing a reassuring presence and building relationships with the community.
“At a time when the Met is trying to build trust, cutting the ability of residents to speak with local police face-to-face is the last thing we should be doing.
“The time to protect community policing, and protect people, is now. We urgently ask that you commit to funding the Met Police in full.”
Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, where a young woman was raped in the town centre, said: “Waltham Forest police informed me Chingford will close and residents will need to go to Stratford or online if they want to contact someone and that’s that - it’s the latest in a long line of examples of how the leadership of the police in our borough don’t seem to want to engage with the public at all.”
A Home Office spokesman said it received the letter and will respond in due course.
He added: “We are backing the police to protect our communities and keep our streets safe with up to £17.6 billion this year, an increase of up to £1.2 billion.
“This includes £200 million to kickstart putting 13,000 additional neighbourhood police officers, PCSOs and special constables that the public will see back on their streets and patrolling communities, as part of our Plan for Change.”
A Met Police spokeswoman said: “Just five per cent of crimes were reported using front counters last year, with the vast majority of Londoners doing it over the phone, online, or in person with officers elsewhere.
“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.”
She added the Met “is focusing ruthlessly on visible policing on London’s streets, modernising services and increasing visibility in neighbourhoods with over 300 additional PCSOs and over 300 additional officers”.
