Merton Lib Dems Slam Met Plan to Close Local Police Front Counters
Merton Liberal Democrats and Paul Kohler MP have expressed deep concern at the Metropolitan Police’s decision to close nearly half of London’s public-facing police front counters dropping from 37 to just 19, with only 8 staying open 24/7.
Under the plan, Wimbledon and Mitcham front counters will be entirely closed. This means residents will lose the ability to report crimes face-to-face or seek help at their local police stations. The nearest 24/7 access points for affected residents will now be in Acton, Sutton, or Lambeth.
Local officers were reportedly only informed of the changes yesterday, with no consultation or prior warning given.
The Met cites financial pressures, a £260m shortfall for officers next year and £1.7bn in unmet estate investment needs, as the reason for its "rationalisation" strategy. However, it admits this move breaks its own public commitment to maintain at least one public 24 hr counter per borough.
The announcement lands amid a strong local push by Merton Liberal Democrats, backed by Mr Kohler, to restore proper community policing. Their campaign emphasises the need for officers to be present & visible, and available when residents need them the most. With previous policing cuts undermining the vital link between police & public across Merton, this announcement is another blow.
While the Met claims it will prioritise local neighbourhood policing teams and explore "video appointments" for victims of crime, concerns remain that frontline services are being hollowed out without viable alternatives in place.
Merton Liberal Democrat Leader Anthony Fairclough said:
“Community policing - that is officers being accessible and embedded in their communities - helps build trust in the force.
The Met's plans to close half the remaining police 'front counters' completely, including in Wimbledon and Mitcham, are hugely worrying.
It also hits those who are digitally excluded - and is part of a wider erosion of visible, community-based policing.
What it means for the longer-term future of these stations is unclear".
Paul Kohler, MP for Wimbledon, said:
“This decision is both shocking and dangerous. At a time when public concern about crime is growing, stripping away vital points of contact between communities and their police is utterly indefensible.”
“I took the Mayor of London to court to stop him closing Wimbledon Police Station back in 2018. I am shocked that the Met are now planning to close its vital front counter and deeply concerned at what this means for the long term future of the station.”
“I acknowledge the Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley is having to cope with Labour’s savage cuts to his budget but dismayed that imaginative solutions, such as volunteer manned front counters have not been explored.”
“We are seeing the slow dismantling of neighbourhood policing, and it’s happening behind closed doors, without transparency or public input. These closures will weaken safety in areas already feeling vulnerable.”
Paul Kohler and Merton Liberal Democrats have started a campaign to keep both local police stations in the borough fully open. Sign the petition here.
Further reading
Merton Liberal Democrats community policing campaign can be found here, their campaign to save Wimbledon police station here, and the town centre policing campaign here.