Extraordinary Merton Council meeting called on police counter closures

An urgent extraordinary meeting of Merton Council has been called by local Lib Dem councillors, after the Mayor of London tried to sneak through cuts over the summer break.

Labour Council bosses need to do more to stand up for residents over police station front counter closures, according to Merton Liberal Democrats.

Residents have been shocked that local Labour politicians failed to mention securing the future of Wimbledon and Mitcham police stations or the importance of community policing in their response to the Mayor’s draft Police and Crime Plan 2025–2029 in March.

A consultation is now being carried out on phase 2 of the New Met for London plan, which provides yet another opportunity to speak out for local residents. 

After sustained pressure from Merton Liberal Democrats, the Mayor of Merton has agreed to convene an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on 17th September to address urgent concerns over local policing, rising crime, and the threat of police station front counter closures*.

Merton Lib Dems have consistently campaigned to protect local policing, calling earlier this year for the Council to back existing stations and establish new community policing bases***, proposals that Labour councillors voted down. 

At the September meeting, Merton Lib Dems will demand answers on:

• Labour Council bosses’ response to the planned closure of Wimbledon and Mitcham police station front counters, given statements from senior Met officers highlighting the poor state of repair at local stations and the looming risk of further downgrades.
• Crime trends in Merton**, in shoplifting, vehicle crime, sexual offences, and drug offences.
• Why Merton Council failed to stand up for residents in its consultation response to the Mayor’s plan and its approach to future opportunities to stand up for residents.

Commenting, Leader of the Opposition Anthony Fairclough said: 

“Labour Council bosses have shown that they simply won’t stand up to the Mayor of London and support community policing. 

“Local Liberal Democrats won’t stand by while front line services are cut. This extraordinary meeting will help hold them to account, by demanding answers and pushing them to actually stand up for community policing, which is so vital in building trust in the police.”

Commenting, Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler said: 

“Community policing is an essential part of keeping our streets safe, and guaranteeing the future of police stations in Merton is central to that. The Council has clearly failed to prioritise this and that simply isn’t good enough. In this meeting we’re demanding answers, action and a fair deal for residents” 

Further reading:

*The Metropolitan Police plan to cut the number of front counters across London from 37 to just 19, including proposals to close Wimbledon and Mitcham stations, despite a clear manifesto pledge from the Mayor of London to maintain a 24/7 counter in every borough. These cuts are expected to save only £7m against a £260m funding gap, leaving residents fearing for the future of local policing. 

**Crime statistics can be found here: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/metropolitan.police.service/viz/MonthlyCrimeDataNewCats/Coversheet 

***Please see Merton Lib Dems’ campaigns and petition on police station counter closures, Wimbledon police station, and community policing. See also Liberal Democrat proposals to Merton Council in January 2025.