Overview

• The Met has launched a public consultation on draft plans to close 18 of its 37 front desks by late 2025 in response to a £260 million budget shortfall.
• Under leaked proposals, only eight counters would operate around the clock while 11 others would cut hours to 10 pm on weekdays and 7 pm at weekends.
• The closures would breach the Met’s pledge under its 2017 Public Access Strategy to keep at least one 24-hour front desk in each of London’s 32 boroughs.
• Outer London MPs and local councillors warn that fewer accessible counters will weaken community policing and hike the risk of defendants absconding when reporting bail conditions.
• Mayor Sadiq Khan declined to attend an emergency London Assembly meeting on the planned cuts and has drawn criticism for sending his deputy to respond instead.