Dramatic drop in police response times throughout Merton following merger

The Mayor of London has admitted that police response times have fallen dramatically across Merton following the merger of its police teams with those in neighbouring boroughs.

In figures supplied to Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Kohler late last year, in the 4 months before the merger, response times across Merton for the most serious 999 calls averaged 9 minutes 30 seconds. In the four months after the merger this deteriorated by over 50% to an average of 15 minutes 15 seconds. Calls in this category require response within 15 minutes.

There was an even more dramatic decrease in response times for the second highest priority of 999 calls. In the four months before the merger, response times averaged 38 minutes 6 seconds. In the four months after the merger this more than tripled to an average of 1 hour 59 minutes. Calls in this category require a response within 1 hour.

Cllr Paul Kohler said:

"I am appalled by this dramatic fall in response times following the merger. The police officers who saved me arrived within 8 minutes, and I fear after seeing these figures I would be dead if the attack happened now."

"I am amazed that the Mayor is even considering closing Wimbledon police station after this news; let alone that he is planning to make his decision without even re-consulting despite the dramatic fall in response times that has occurred since the last consultation ended."