"There are currently 37 front counters in operation across the Met, of which 32 are 24/7, with five open for a limited number of hours. Under the proposals, only eight police stations in London would remain open round the clock."
"Asked why he had broken a manifesto pledge, he said: When the facts change, I change my mind. He said the front counter closures would save 7m while keeping them open would be wasting resources. He told Mayor's Question Time at City Hall on Thursday: Very few Londoners use the front counters it's just a fact. I would be a fool to be dogmatic and not follow the evidence from the police service."
"He was asked by Gareth Roberts, a Lib-Dem assembly member: When exactly were you first made aware of this decision to axe front counters across London? Sir Sadiq replied: It was in the tough choices' presentation the commissioner did in November/December, during one of the iterations of the [Met police] budget]. Mr Roberts said: So for the best part of a year you've known about this but the assembly only found out in July."
Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley's "tough choices" presentation from November/December set priorities to cope with a long-term funding crisis. There are currently 37 front counters across the Met, 32 of which operate 24/7 and five with limited hours. Under the proposals only eight police stations in London would remain open round the clock. The mayor pledged a 24-hour front office counter in every borough during the 2024 campaign but described the closures as an operational Met decision and said the changes would save £7m while few Londoners use front counters. Many stations would remain for officers but not for public reporting.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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