The High Court has rejected a South West London council's bid to take legal action over the closure of its last police station front desk. Richmond Council had applied for a judicial review of the Met Police's decision to close the front counter at Twickenham Police Station, which shut in February.
The council's pre-action protocol letter to the Met and Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) stated that the decision had been made without consultation, clear evidence, or consideration for vulnerable residents who relied on face-to-face support. However, the High Court has now refused permission for the council's case to proceed to a judicial review.
This closure makes Richmond one of five London boroughs without a walk-in police service, joining Harrow, Merton, Kensington and Chelsea, and Barking and Dagenham. Richmond Council expressed frustration over the High Court's decision, with Lib Dem council leader Gareth Roberts saying the authority was disappointed.
Roberts stated: 'Our position remains unchanged: Richmond residents should have access to a face-to-face police counter service. Richmond is now one of five boroughs in London without one - despite clear promises from the Mayor of London that every borough would retain a front counter. For many residents, particularly older or vulnerable people, being able to speak to someone in person matters. It is about accessibility, visibility, and public confidence in local policing. We took action because residents deserved to have their voices heard before such an important service was removed. While the court has reached its decision, that does not change the fact that Richmond has lost another visible part of its local policing presence.'
The Met announced it was closing 10 police station front desks in October, leaving London with just two front desks operating 24 hours a day. A total of 27 front counters remain open across the capital, down from 37, in a move expected to save the Met roughly £7 million. This cost-cutting measure is part of £260m worth of savings the force said it needed to make by reducing services and slashing around 1,700 officer and staff roles. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan repeatedly pledged to keep at least one 24-hour front desk open in each London borough, but later supported the Met's plans.
The council said it would continue pressing the Met and City Hall to restore accessible front counter provision in Richmond. No costs order was made against the council for seeking the judicial review. A Mayor of London spokesperson said: 'The proposed changes to police counters are an operational decision for the Met - based on resources, funding and public demand for services. After over a decade of cuts worth over a billion under the previous government, the Met is facing an extremely difficult financial situation. The Mayor is working closely with the Met to boost visible neighbourhood policing in our communities and will continue to work closely with government to ensure we can continue building a safer London for everyone.' The Met has been contacted for comment.
