• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Sadiq Khan confirms the closure of dozens of police stations

November 1, 2017 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Mayor Sadiq Khan has approved the closure of dozens of Metropolitan police stations, further reducing the number of public access points operated by the force.

The closures will leave boroughs with just one 24/7 station each and follow the axing of more than 60 stations and front counters by former mayor Boris Johnson.

City Hall says the latest closures, which include the stations at Holborn, Southall, Fulham, Kilburn, Holloway, Brick Lane and Wimbledon, will save £8m and help the Met absorb the latest government cuts to its budget.

The number of visits to police stations has fallen in recent years, thanks to a rise in reporting crimes and incidents by phone and online and these channels will get further investment to ensure Londoners can always contact the Met.

Announcing his closures, Mayor Khan said: “Keeping Londoners safe is my number-one priority, and supporting officers out on the beat in our communities is more important than keeping open buildings that are simply not used by the vast majority of the public, and where just eight per cent of crimes are reported.

“Nevertheless, I understand and share some of the very legitimate concerns of Londoners about these closures. That is why we held the widest possible consultation with public meetings in every London borough and we have listened very carefully to the feedback

“I am confident that these final plans maintain the best possible service for Londoners, and will provide the access to the police that they need – especially in an emergency.”

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “I am confident that these changes will not impact on our ability to deliver this. We know that the ways in which the public want to contact us have changed, so we absolutely must continue to transform, focusing on serving the public as best we can.

“Of course we know there will be some people who need to speak to a police officer face to face, and there are still many ways in which they can do that.”
 
The Commissioner added: “We must be a modern forward looking organisation, with better, more effective technology so we can equip our staff to do their jobs whilst on the beat.

“This is not simply about the constraints on our budget, but future proofing how we deliver front line policing and the difficult choices we face.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy