Richmond Council has begun legal proceedings against the Metropolitan Police and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) following the decision to permanently close the public front counter at Twickenham Police Station.
The closure would leave Richmond as one of only five London boroughs without a single police counter.
It forms part of wider plans to close five police front counters across the capital and remove 24/7 police station front counters from every borough.
Councillor Gareth Roberts said: “Trust in policing is already fragile. Removing the last physical point of contact from an entire borough sends entirely the wrong message to residents who simply want to feel safe and know the police are accessible.”
The London Assembly has called on the Mayor to reverse the closures, with Emma Best AM proposing a motion in November.
Twickenham residents have expressed anger about the plans.
Sheila and Trevor Gould, who have lived in Twickenham for over 40 years, described the decision as ‘disgraceful.’
They said: “It will make us feel less safe. To have no policing presence in the borough is a huge concern.
“We just walked past the old Teddington police station which was closed and has now been lying derelict for years.
“We support the Council’s step to take legal action.”
In a pre-action protocol letter to the Met Police and MOPAC, the Council sets out concerns including:
- Failure to consult residents, the Council or local stakeholders
- Lack of evidence demonstrating that closure is justified or that alternatives were explored
- Departure from previous commitments to maintain one front counter per borough
- Insufficient consideration of the impact on vulnerable residents requiring face-to-face support
Richmond Council is now calling for the immediate suspension of the closure pending the outcome of legal proceedings, and for MOPAC and the Met to reinstate a borough-level plan for accessible, in-person policing.
Featured Image: Twickenham Police Station. Image Credit: Rose Battey
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