Overview

• The Metropolitan Police proposes cutting London front counters from 37 to 19 to balance a £260 million budget gap.
• Only eight stations would maintain round-the-clock service, while the other 11 would restrict front-desk hours to 10 pm on weekdays and 7 pm on weekends.
• The force plans to eliminate about 1,700 officer and staff positions and disband specialist units to free up resources for neighbourhood patrols.
• A formal public consultation on the draft closures is under way, with no changes to take effect before late 2025.
• Local MPs and assembly members have condemned the draft cuts and urged the government to commit new funding to preserve community policing access.