Wandsworth Liberal Democrats are demanding that the Mayor of London keeps the Lavender Hill counter open - the only remaining police front counter in Wandsworth.
The Met has been forced to close nearly half of London's public-facing police front counters, dropping from 37 to just 19, with only 8 staying open 24/7 across the capital. After years of Conservative cuts to police staff, the Met is still facing a £2bn shortfall in officer numbers and unmet estate investment needs.
If Lavender Hill's front counter in Battersea closes, residents in our borough will no longer to able to walk into a police station to seek help or report a crime face-to-face. The nearest 24/7 access points for affected residents will now be in Kingston, Sutton, or Lambeth.
With previous policing cuts undermining the vital link between police and the public across Wandsworth, this announcement is yet another blow. The Met admits this move breaks its own public commitment to maintain at least one public 24 hr counter per borough.
Every week, Wandsworth Liberal Democrats hear from residents who are deeply concerned about crime – from anti-social behaviour and car break-ins, to bicycle theft and burglaries.
Local people agree with the Lib Dems that policing needs to be visible, local and available when residents need them most.
That’s why we are calling on the Labour government to fund the Metropolitan Police in full, and the London Mayor to keep our Lavender Hill counter open.
Sign the petition
Save Lavender Hill front counter
The Met Police plans to close the Lavender Hill front counter in Battersea — forcing residents to travel outside Wandsworth for face-to-face support. This breaks a public promise to keep at least one 24/7 counter in every borough. We call on the government to fund the Met properly, and the Mayor of London to keep Lavender Hill open.