The Metropolitan Police is embroiled in a fierce row over covert plans to shutter public front counters at police stations across the capital, the Daily Mail can reveal. The move would represent the most drastic reduction in public access to police services in a generation.
Leaked documents detail a cost-cutting initiative that would see front desks closed to the public at stations in Westminster and other central London boroughs. This has ignited fury from politicians, community leaders, and watchdogs who accuse the force of abandoning the public and operating in secrecy.
A Stealthy Strategy Sparks Outcry
The plans were discovered buried within an obscure review document on the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) website. Critics have lambasted the lack of public consultation, branding the strategy a 'stealth closure' programme that was never formally announced.
Susan Hall, the Conservative London Assembly policing lead, led the condemnation: "This is a disgraceful way to treat Londoners. To try and sneak this out without any announcement shows they know how unpopular it will be." The move is seen as a major blow to community policing, removing vital points of contact for reporting crime, seeking help, or handing in found property.
Safety and Transparency Concerns Mount
The controversy raises serious questions about transparency and public safety under Mayor Sadiq Khan's administration. The Mayor's office for Policing and Crime, which must approve the plans, is facing calls to block the proposals immediately.
This decision comes amidst ongoing concerns about rising crime rates and dwindling police visibility in communities. Shutting these front desks will force more people to rely on telephone and online services, a significant barrier for the elderly, vulnerable, or those without digital access.
The Metropolitan Police has yet to provide a formal public statement defending the planned closures, leaving Londoners in the dark about the future of their local police access.
