Mayor and Deputy Mayor Concealed Police Front Counter Closure Plans for Months
It was revealed at today’s London Assembly Police and Crime Committee that both the Mayor of London and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime knew as early as November and December last year that closures of police front counters were under consideration – but failed to disclose this to Londoners until the summer.
During questioning at the Committee, the Deputy Mayor admitted that closures, not just reduced opening hours, were discussed in high-level meetings late last year. Yet no mention was made publicly, and Assembly Members were kept in the dark until July this year, when concrete proposals were finally shared.
Assembly Member Gareth Roberts expressed frustration at the lack of transparency:
The Mayor’s manifesto commitment last year explicitly promised to protect police front counters.
The financial pressures facing the Metropolitan Police were already well known at the time, including a significant budget deficit.
Public usage of front counters had not changed substantially, with Londoners still making use of them despite the rise in online reporting.
Despite this, Londoners were led to believe that their local police front counters were secure, while behind closed doors, plans for closures were already being prepared.
Cllr Gareth Roberts AM condemned the lack of openness:
“To discover that both the Mayor and his Deputy Mayor privately knew closures of police front counters were on the table but stayed silent for seven or eight months is unacceptable. These decisions go to the heart of public trust and safety. Communities rely on local police counters – and they should not be cut by stealth.”
The proposals would see up to 18 police front counters shut across the capital, for an estimated saving of just £7 million – a move strongly opposed by local communities.
The London Assembly will continue pressing for clarity on what has changed since the Mayor’s election promise, and why Londoners were misled for so long.