A South West London council is taking the Metropolitan Police and the Mayor of London to court in a dramatic bid to stop the closure of its last remaining police station front desk.
Legal Challenge Over 'Unlawful' Decision
Richmond Council has issued a pre-action legal letter to the Met and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). The authority argues the decision to shut the public front counter at Twickenham Police Station was made without proper consultation or evidence, and fails vulnerable residents who need in-person support.
Council Leader, Councillor Gareth Roberts, stated the move left them with no alternative but to act. He described the closure as "a risk to accessibility, trust and public safety".
Borough Left With Zero Police Counters
The closure, part of a wider cost-cutting plan announced in October 2025, will see 10 front desks shut across London. Only two 24-hour desks will remain city-wide, with the total number of counters falling from 37 to 27.
This decision directly contradicts previous pledges by Mayor Sadiq Khan to maintain at least one 24-hour front desk in every London borough. The shut-down at Twickenham means Richmond will become one of only five boroughs in London with no police front desk whatsoever.
The Met says the closures are necessary to save around £7 million, contributing to a massive £260 million savings target that also involves cutting approximately 1,700 officer and staff roles.
Fragile Trust and Broken Promises
In its legal letter, the council outlines several key grievances:
- A failure to consult residents, the council, or local stakeholders.
- A lack of evidence justifying the closure or exploring alternatives.
- Insufficient consideration for vulnerable people reliant on face-to-face contact.
- A departure from the pledged policy of one front desk per borough.
Councillor Roberts slammed the closure as sending the "wrong message to residents who simply want to feel safe and know the police are accessible." He linked it to other decisions eroding local policing, like the recent disbandment of the Royal Parks Police.
The council is demanding the closure be suspended pending legal proceedings and is calling for a reinstated borough-level plan for accessible policing. If the Met and MOPAC do not provide a satisfactory resolution, the council will seek a judicial review, where a judge will rule on the lawfulness of the decision.
A MOPAC spokesperson confirmed they had received the "letter before claim" and would respond in due course. The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment.
