Sadiq Khan and the Met Police break pledge - Islington to lose out again
The Metropolitan Police plan to close half the front desks at its stations to save money, the Liberal Democrats have learnt.
The move would reduce the number of counters across London from 37 to 19, reducing places where people can walk in and speak to an officer face-to-face at their local police station.
Islington Police Station faces having the hours of its only remaining front counter slashed.
The plan would break a pledge to have a counter staffed 24/7 in each of the capital's 32 boroughs.
At the same time, the Met have been struggling with a widespread loss of trust in its officers, particularly among women, following the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.
There were further revelations about entrenched misogyny and racism, leading to the force attempting to rebuild trust with Londoners with a two-year plan making fresh commitments on community policing, in its A New Met for London external strategy.
A key commitment from Labour was to have at least one 24/7 front counter in each of London's 32 boroughs to make it easier for people to report crime.
But the Liberal Democrats have seen leaked plans for the Met Police that show only eight counters will remain open 24/7, and there will also be reduced hours at 11 front counters, closing at 10pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends, including Islington Police Station at the Angel
Islington lost the front desk at Holloway Police Station in 2017, and the police station at Highbury Vale was closed and sold off in 2012.
Former Islington Council Leader and Liberal Democrat activist Terry Stacy said:
“The decision to axe half of London’s police counters will come as a massive shock to many Londoners, as is the plan to reduce the hours of Islington’s only remaining police counter. At a time when crime, and the fear of crime, is on the rise across the capital this not only sends the wrong messages, but is yet more evidence Sadiq Khan and Labour are failing in their duty to make the case for our city and Islington”
Notes to editor: https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/metropolitan-police/d/october-2022/mps-stations-closed-in-london-boroughs-2012-2022/
