{"id":349912,"date":"2025-08-16T19:48:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T19:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/349912\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T19:48:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T19:48:18","slug":"sadiq-khan-urged-to-step-in-over-plans-to-scrap-nearly-half-of-londons-police-front-counters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/349912\/","title":{"rendered":"Sadiq Khan urged to step in over plans to scrap nearly half of London\u2019s police front counters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sir Sadiq Khan has come under increasing pressure to intervene and ask the Metropolitan Police to rethink their proposals about scrapping almost half of station front counters in London, including the one in Harrow.<\/p>\n

Labour\u2019s spokesperson for Policing and Crime in City Hall Marina Ahmad has become the second party representative to break ranks and come out publicly against the Metropolitan Police\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n

Assembly Members have been critical of the fact that the proposals are considered an operational decision for the Met Police, meaning no public consultation, which could reveal the full extent of the strength of feeling against the closures, is needed.<\/p>\n

Ms Ahmad said: \u201cThe Met police should consult publicly on these proposals. It is essential that the Met police engage with Londoners, consult on proposals and seek views on how this might impact the same communities that they are working hard to rebuild trust with.<\/p>\n

\u201cFront counters provide a visible and accessible public presence. They are often the first point of contact for vulnerable people including those fleeing domestic abuse, rough sleepers and people in crisis as well as those who do not have internet access.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile my colleagues and I recognise the very real financial pressures the Met is facing following 14 years of austerity, we do not believe this decision is acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last week the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) revealed the start of the unrest in Labour\u2019s ranks about the closures, which were revealed prior to an Extraordinary Public Meeting in City Hall last Wednesday.<\/p>\n

City and East Assembly Member Unmesh Desai told the LDRS that the impact of closing the 24-hour front counter at Bethnal Green Police Station would have a \u201cdevastating\u201d impact on the community.<\/p>\n

Labour MPs have also campaigned for the Met to rethink their choice, which they say will save \u00a37million at a time when the force needs to make up a \u00a3260million funding gap.<\/p>\n

Margaret Mullane, the MP for Dagenham and Rainham, has said the front counter at Dagenham Police Station is \u201cthe last place to physically report crime\u201d in her constituency.<\/p>\n

Labour MP Danny Beale, who represents Uxbridge and South Rusilip<\/a>, told the Democracy Reporting Service that the planned closure of the front desk at Hayes Police Station is \u201cdisappointing and unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cAs a Member of Parliament for the neighbouring constituency in Hillingdon, I know that many of my residents rely on the accessibility of the Hayes front desk as the only in person reporting mechanism in the Borough.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince my election in July, I have met and spoken to residents and victims regarding the impact of crime in our borough. I am incredibly proud of the work this Government has done so far reverse the trend of historic cuts to the Metropolitan Police\u2019s funding \u2014 with an additional \u00a365 million when compared to the 2024-25 settlement, equating to 31.1% real terms increase. However, due to over a decade of underfunding, it is clear more support is needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Metropolitan Police\u2019s decision to close the front desk and thus reduce accessibility and availability to the community would be a significant step in the wrong direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing the announcement, I have written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, and the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, to outline my significant concerns regarding this decision and asking them to think again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mayor of London did not attend the Extraordinary London Assembly meeting last week, instead sending his Deputy Mayor of Policing and Crime Kaya Comer-Schwartz.<\/p>\n

Last month Sir Sadiq defended plans to shut the counters, saying that in some areas, \u201cfrankly speaking, nobody uses the front counters after office hours\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the Mayor\u2019s Office whether he would intervene and ask the Met Police to rethink their decision but did not get a direct response.<\/p>\n

Ms Comer-Schwartz told the Democracy Reporting Service today:\u201cNothing is more important to the Mayor and I than keeping Londoners safe and we are determined to continue doing all we can to support Sir Mark Rowley deliver a New Met for London, putting neighbourhood policing at the heart of communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe proposed changes to police counters are an operational decision for the Met \u2013 based on resources, funding and public demand for services.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter over a decade of cuts worth over a billion under the previous government, the Met is facing an extremely difficult financial situation. The Mayor and I are working closely with the Met to boost visible neighbourhood policing in our communities and are having ongoing discussions with Ministers and the Commissioner about the funding the Met needs to ensure we can continue building a safer London for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Met spokesperson told the Democracy Reporting Service: \u201cJust 5% of crimes were reported using front counters last year, with only 1% of these being made during the night. At the busiest front counter in London on average 15 crimes are reported a day \u2013 less than one an hour \u2013 and in the least busy, only 2.5 crimes are reported a day.<\/p>\n

\u201cLondoners tell us they want to see more officers on our streets. The decision to reduce and close some front counters will save \u00a37million and 3,752 hours of police officer time per month allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London.\u201d<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udce9
\n
\n \"Sadiq<\/p>\n

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