The Metropolitan Police has proposed permanently reducing the number of public-facing police station front counters in London from 37 to 19, a move that union leaders say will "undoubtedly" lead to a rise in crime, unreported offences and increased stress for staff.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the proposals, part of a package of cuts designed to close a roughly £260 million funding gap, were being pushed through without proper consultation and threatened services in areas experiencing rising crime. She and other union officials said the force’s plans would leave only about eight counters operating 24 hours a day, ending a mayoral manifesto pledge to maintain at least one 24-hour front desk in each London borough. The union said stations earmarked for closure include those in Dagenham, Edmonton and Chingford and warned as many as 100 staff could lose their jobs. Unite has announced plans for protests outside affected stations.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said last year just 5% of crimes were reported at front counters and only 1% of those were reported during the night, noting the busiest counter averaged about 15 crimes a day while the least busy averaged 2.5. The force estimated the changes would save roughly £7 million and reclaim about 3,752 hours of police officer time per month that could be used for neighbourhood patrols and other operational priorities. The spokesperson said the proposal remains at an early stage and that engagement with stakeholders, including unions, would occur before a formal consultation when a decision is made.
The timing and manner of disclosure have been questioned. Assembly members were told the plans were drawn up in December 2024 but they were not made public until July 2025, prompting criticism from union representatives who said they were not properly consulted before announcements were made.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has described changes to front counters as "operational" decisions for the Met, and said most Londoners now report crime by phone, online or directly to officers. He told London Assembly members that around 95% of reports come via those channels and defended reallocating resources to visible policing. Khan has also intervened in at least one station closure previously, arranging to keep Uxbridge station open ahead of a by-election.
The front-counter proposal is one element of wider cuts announced by the Met as it seeks to manage a large budget shortfall. The force has said it plans to reduce its workforce by about 1,700 officers and staff and remove dedicated police officers in schools and the Royal Parks division. It has also proposed reductions to forensic teams, historic crime units, mounted and dog teams, and warned that some specialist units such as the organised crime-busting Flying Squad could lose capabilities.
Critics say the cuts come against a difficult crime backdrop in the capital. Over the past decade London has recorded a roughly 31.5% increase in overall crime and a nearly 40% rise in violent crime, figures cited by opponents of the closures show. City officials and policing experts have also pointed to a mobile phone theft epidemic: Metropolitan Police figures indicate more than 116,000 phones were stolen in 2024 — about one every five minutes.
Union leaders warned that removing in-person reporting options would disproportionately affect elderly people, those with disabilities and people with limited English, who may find it harder to complete online forms or use phone-based services. They also said the extra workload would fall on already stretched call handlers, increasing pressure on staff and risking further absences.
The Met maintains that reallocating officer time away from front counters will allow a renewed focus on tackling crime on streets and in neighbourhoods. Any final decision will follow consultation, the force said, while Unite and other unions prepare to contest the proposals through protests and formal engagement as the process moves forward.