Acton police station is set to be one of just eight stations in London operating a 24/7 public front counter, following a new wave of planned closures by the Metropolitan Police.
Last week, the BBC revealed it had seen leaked Met Police plans showing that only eight front counters across the capital will remain open around the clock. A further 11 are set to have their hours reduced, closing at 10pm on weekdays and 7pm at weekends. The decision has sparked shock and concern among local politicians.
There are fears that Acton may be forced to pick up additional demand from neighbouring Richmond, with closures expected in Twickenham and Merton, potentially doubling its workload.
The move by the Metropolitan Police follows a controversial 2017 decision by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) to shut 36 of the city’s 73 police stations, leaving most boroughs with just one full-time public counter. For the Queen of the Suburbs, this left Acton as the only station offering 24/7 public access, after front counters at Ealing and Southall police stations were closed.
London Assembly Labour Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, Bassam Mahfouz, voiced his concerns. He said: “After 14 years of Tory cuts to the Met Police, Labour’s Mayor and government are delivering record investment – finally turning the tide. While savings are needed, scrapping borough front counters breaks the promise of the New Met for London plan.
“This isn’t the policing Londoners voted for. The Met must urgently rethink and I’m backing the need to keep Acton and Hayes police station front counters open.”
Councillor Connie Hersch, Ealing Liberal Democrat spokesperson for crime and anti-social behaviour, said: “Given the increase in crime and antisocial behaviour especially around our train and tube transport hubs, the decision to axe half of London’s police counters will come as a massive shock to many Londoners.”
Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of Ealing Lib Dems, added: “With the police less visible and accessible to the public, local residents will rightly be worried about their safety and the ability to report crime easily. Acton police station will be one of only eight 24/7 police stations across London is truly shocking. The Labour government must urgently commit to funding the Metropolitan Police properly to rebuild community policing across London before it’s too late.”
In defending the closures, a Met Police spokesperson said: “Just 5% of crimes were reported using front counters last year, with the vast majority of Londoners doing it over the phone, online, or in person with officers elsewhere.
“Given the Met’s budget shortfall and shrinking size, it is no longer sustainable to keep all front counters open.
“That’s why we have taken the tough choice to pursue some closures and a reduction in hours – allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London.”
