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.”
