Last‑ditch Call to Save Police Front Counters in London Amid Closure Plans

Published: 18 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Campaigners, police staff and local politicians are urgently pressing the Metropolitan Police Service and the Mayor of London to reverse plans to close police station front counters across the capital, warning that cuts risk eroding public access to essential services and undermining community safety. The story has emerged amid ongoing debate over policing priorities and budget pressures facing the force.

At the end of February, ten Met Police front counters — locations where members of the public can speak face‑to‑face with officers, report crimes, hand in evidence or seek help — were due to close entirely, with more facing shorter opening hours. Critics say the closures break a manifesto pledge by Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to maintain a 24‑hour public counter in every London borough and leave vulnerable residents without vital access to policing.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union, representing front‑line police staff, launched an e‑action campaign and delivered over 10,000 letters to local MPs and assembly members. In response to mounting pressure and negotiations between the union and the Met, authorities have paused the closures — a potential U‑turn that keeps the contentious counters open while talks continue on their future. Supporters of the campaign say retaining the counters is crucial not only for crime reporting but also for helping vulnerable people, victims of domestic violence, hate crime sufferers and tourists without digital access.

Many local politicians have also voiced strong opposition. Conservative and Liberal Assembly members have tabled petitions and public petitions, such as one to save the 24/7 counter at Kensington Police Station, arguing that front counters are “lifelines” for communities and that their removal could leave residents feeling unsafe or unheard.

The saga reflects wider tensions in London’s policing landscape. The Met has faced a budget shortfall of around £260 million, forcing “tough choices” about core services and resources. While the force has defended the proposed changes on the basis that only a small proportion of crimes are reported in person at counters — around 5 % nationally — opponents say the counters fulfil other unquantified but essential functions. They stress that closures could disproportionately affect the elderly, people without smartphones or internet access, and survivors of crime who prefer personal contact with officers.

As negotiations continue, both police chiefs and community leaders are under pressure to find a solution that balances operational efficiency with community confidence in policing. For now, the campaign to save London’s police front counters — described by both staff and residents as a “last‑ditch call” — has brought renewed focus to how policing is delivered on the ground in Britain’s capital.

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