London is set to be left with just two 24-hour police front counters as ten more are set to close under the Met Police’s cost-cutting plans.
The number of front desks where members of the public can speak to officers will be reduced from 37 to 27, with the remaining sites operating Monday to Friday from 10am to 10pm, and 9am to 7pm on weekends.
The move breaks a previous pledge by the Met Police and the Mayor of London to maintain at least one 24-hour accessible counter in each of the capital’s 32 boroughs.
Only two of the busiest counters—located at Charing Cross, where 10 officers are currently under investigation by the police watchdog, and Lewisham—will continue to operate around the clock.
The Met said the closures would save £7 million, but staff and victim support groups have warned the move could put some people at risk by limiting access to face-to-face support.
The decision to reduce the number of front desks was made to help address a £260 million budget shortfall, but has faced sharp criticism for potentially breaching Scotland Yard’s pledge to maintain at least one 24-hour accessible counter in each of London’s 32 boroughs.
The cuts were met with fierce opposition from Unite the union, which called the plan “incredibly short-sighted” and “completely unacceptable.”
The union warned that the move could lead to 100 police staff losing their jobs and predicted a rise in crime, as fewer options would be available for victims to report incidents in person.
The Met had originally planned to cut the number of front desks from 37 to 19, but said it had scaled back plans after receiving feedback from Londoners.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “The Met is having to shrink to live within its means and as the public would expect, we are targeting our resources on a narrower set of their priorities to make London safer.
“Londoners tell us they want more visible and responsive policing on the capital's streets and that is exactly what we are going to deliver.
“But we have also listened to their views during an extensive engagement process and, while our funding gap means we must reduce provision, we will keep more front counters open across London.”
Met Police said the changes to front counter provision reflect the rapidly changing nature of crime reporting with 95 per cent of reports made by the public online, over the phone, or directly with officers. They said the move will free up over 2,900 hours of police officer time per month.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The news that more police front counters will remain open - with extended opening hours - for members of the public is welcome.
“Whilst this is an operational policing decision, this action would not have been possible without record-breaking funding from City Hall. We will continue to support the Met to deliver what Londoners want - boosting visible neighbourhood policing on our streets and making local officers more accessible in our communities.
“We want to do more to build on the record reductions in violence and homicides achieved in the capital, and I will continue to support the police and make the case to government for the funding the Met needs - to ensure we can continue building a safer London for everyone.”
The front desk closures proposed will apply to the following locations: Kensington, Harrow, Wimbledon, Twickenham and Chingford. The current reduced hours counters that will close are: Pinner, Barking, Church Street, Royalty Studios and Mitcham.
Police station 24-hour front desks that will remain open with extended hours are as follows:
• Acton
• Croydon
• Bromley
• Wembley
• Brixton
• Walworth
• Stoke Newington
• Forest Gate
• Bethnal Green
• Colindale
• Islington
• Hounslow
• Romford
• Hammersmith
• Kentish Town
• Ilford
• Kingston
• Bexleyheath
• Edmonton
• Plumstead
• Lavender Hill
• Sutton
• Dagenham
• Hayes
• Tottenham
