Met Police front counter closures to include 2 South London stations

Residents of Merton are set to lose a key element of community policing as the Metropolitan Police confirms plans to close the public-facing front counters at both Wimbledon and Mitcham police stations.

This decision means residents will no longer have a convenient local place to report crimes, submit documents, or seek in-person support from the police.

The closures are part of a citywide restructuring that will cut the number of front counters in London from 37 to just 19, with only eight remaining open 24 hours a day. According to the Met, the move is necessary to tackle a projected £260 million funding shortfall for officers next year and £1.7 billion in unmet investment needs across its buildings and facilities.

However, the plan has been met with strong local opposition in Merton, where the counters have long been valued as essential for reporting crime and getting advice.

Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler described the decision as “shocking and dangerous,” saying: “At a time when public concern about crime is increasing, removing vital points of contact between communities and their police is indefensible.”

Although Kohler acknowledged that Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley faces government-imposed funding pressures, he criticised the lack of creative solutions, suggesting that options like volunteer-run counters should have been explored to maintain local access.

Kohler, who previously took Sadiq Khan to court in 2018 to stop the closure of Wimbledon Police Station, said he is now “deeply concerned” about its long-term future. Both Wimbledon and Mitcham stations have faced closure threats for years, sparking multiple campaigns by local political parties to protect them.

During a council Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on July 2, a Met representative from the Merton, Richmond, and Kingston Basic Command Unit (BCU) told councillors: “At this time, both stations remain operational with Public Access Officers present. I have no information suggesting this will change.”

Merton Council Leader Ross Garrod also expressed his concern following the Met’s announcement: “We are worried by the news that the Metropolitan Police plans to close the front-desk services at both Wimbledon and Mitcham Police Stations. I will seek a meeting with the Met Police as soon as possible to raise our concerns about these proposals.”

Local police officers reportedly had no prior notice of the decision or chance to contribute input before it was announced.

A Met spokesperson defended the closures, noting that only five per cent of crimes were reported at front counters last year and that most residents now use phones, online tools, or engage with officers elsewhere.

“Given the Met’s budget shortfall and shrinking resources, keeping all front counters open is no longer sustainable,” the spokesperson said. “That’s why we’ve made the difficult decision to close some counters and reduce operating hours.”

Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Gareth Richards also criticised the move, blaming City Hall for not securing sufficient funding and calling the closures — which also affect Twickenham in his South West London constituency — the “wrong message.”

Wimbledon and Mitcham front counters are expected to close later this year, with each BCU retaining one counter chosen for accessibility and transport links. For Merton residents, the nearest 24/7 access points will be in Acton, Sutton, or Lambeth.

Engagement with staff, unions, and community groups is ongoing. Until the changes formally take effect, all front counters remain open.

Although the Met plans to introduce digital alternatives such as video appointments and the new Met Engage platform — providing crime updates and online contact with local officers — campaigners argue that digital-only contact cannot replace the reassurance and accountability of face-to-face engagement, particularly for vulnerable residents.

The closures come as Merton Council has been working to enhance community safety. Earlier this month, the borough launched its Safer Streets Team, which now patrols all neighbourhoods weekly to tackle antisocial behaviour and improve visibility. Merton has also invested in upgrading and expanding its 24-hour CCTV network across the area.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London stated: “The Mayor’s priority is keeping Londoners safe, and he is working to support the Commissioner in creating a new Met that puts communities first. Any changes to front counter numbers or hours are operational decisions for the Met, based on resources, funding, and public demand.

“After more than a decade of government cuts totalling over a billion pounds, the Met faces an extremely difficult financial situation. The Mayor continues to work with the Met, ministers, and the Commissioner to secure the funding needed to maintain visible neighbourhood policing and build a safer London for everyone.”