In a shocking move set to affect countless Londoners, the Metropolitan Police is planning to shutter half of its front counters as part of a budget-cutting strategy. This bold initiative will reduce the number of accessible counters from 37 to just 19, drastically limiting face-to-face interactions with officers at local police stations.

This decision breaks a previous promise to maintain a 24/7 police presence at each of London’s 32 boroughs—a key commitment aimed at ensuring safety and accessibility for residents.

A spokesperson for the Met acknowledged that consultations are underway, but insisted no immediate changes would occur until later this year. They stated, “Given the Met's budget shortfall and shrinking resources, it is no longer sustainable to keep all front counters operational.”

The Metropolitan Police serves every area of London except the Square Mile, which is policed by the City of London Police. Just last month, Chief Sir Mark Rowley warned Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that severe budget cuts would force police forces to make difficult choices about which crimes to prioritize.

Funding woes have escalated tensions within the government, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper fighting to secure budget negotiations, emerging as one of the last ministers to finalize her department's spending.

In the backdrop of these financial challenges, Labour has made bold promises to reduce violence against women and girls, as well as knife crime in the capital. However, the Met Police is reeling from a crisis of public trust, especially following the tragic murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer.

In a concerted effort to rebuild its reputation, the Met launched a two-year plan, ‘A New Met for London’, which pledged to strengthen community policing and restore faith in their officers. A cornerstone of this initiative was the assurance of at least one 24/7 front counter in each borough to facilitate crime reporting.

However, leaked documents reveal a stark reality: only eight counters will remain open around the clock, while 11 others will see reduced hours, closing as early as 10 PM on weekdays and 7 PM on weekends.

Defending the counter closures, a Met spokesperson emphasized the need to reallocate resources to effectively combat crime, noting that just 5% of reported crimes came through front counters last year. This statistic underscores a significant shift as the majority of Londoners now report crimes via phone, online, or directly with officers at alternative locations.

With nearly a million crimes reported to the Met in 2024, the implications of these closures could be profound: only around 50,000 crimes were reported at existing counters. Meanwhile, the Home Office has refrained from commenting on this contentious issue, and inquiries to the Mayor of London remain unanswered.