UK Shock as Met Slashes Front Desks Amid Budget Woes

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The Metropolitan Police is set to shutter half of its front desks across London in a bid to cut costs, reducing the number of accessible counters from 37 to 19. This move breaks the promise of having a 24/7 staffed counter in each of the capital’s 32 boroughs, causing concern among Londoners who rely on face-to-face interaction at their local stations.

 

A Met spokesperson confirmed that while consultations are ongoing, no changes will commence until later this year. They cited a budget shortfall and a reduced force as reasons for the closures, remarking that it’s “no longer sustainable” to keep all counters open. The Met's jurisdiction covers London, excluding the Square Mile, which falls under the City of London Police’s remit.

 

Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley recently warned Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer about potential tough choices in crime investigation due to budget constraints. The funding concern was highlighted when Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s departmental spending negotiations with the Treasury went down to the wire.

 

Labour has also committed to halving violence against women and reducing knife crime in their manifesto.

The Met faces a crisis of trust after the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer and revelations of entrenched misogyny and racism. Their "A New Met for London" strategy aims to restore confidence, promising community-focused policing and at least one constant front desk per borough for crime reporting.

 

However, leaked plans reveal only eight of these counters will remain open 24/7. The others will operate at reduced hours, with 11 outlets closing at 10pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends. The Met defended their decision by stating the majority of crime reports—95%—are made via phone, online, or directly to officers, minimising reliance on front counters.

 

Statistics show nearly a million crimes reported to the Met in 2024, not including fraud, with under 50,000 filed at current counters. In response, the Met aims to redirect resources to neighbourhood policing. The Home Office offered no comment, and the Mayor of London is yet to respond.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-07-19