“9 Million People, 36 Police Stations And More Cuts Coming. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?”

London currently has just 36 operational police stations left — thirty-six stations to serve nearly nine million people across a city that spans over 1,500 square miles. And yet, rather than addressing this glaring issue, the Metropolitan Police are faced with even more cuts, with plans reportedly underway to close additional stations due to ongoing financial pressures.

The sheer scale of this is staggering. How can so few stations realistically cater to such a vast and complex city? Communities are left with minimal access to local policing services. What’s more shocking is the deafening silence from those in authority. The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime has repeatedly failed to give clear answers when asked about future closures. And those who should be advocating for our police force remain quiet.

Across other global capital cities, police infrastructure is prioritised — stations are open, visible, and accessible. In London, that’s no longer the case. We’ve reached the point where the Met has cut so deeply that what remains to cut are officers themselves.

Those same officers are already stretched beyond capacity. Many are suffering from PTSD, working back-to-back shifts, and being redeployed from recovery roles straight back into high-stress frontline duties — not because it’s best for them, but because there are simply no other options. The public often asks, “Where are the police?” or complains of long waits and distant stations — but what’s being done to give those officers the resources and infrastructure they need?

Trust in policing is repeatedly questioned, yet one of the clearest contributing factors — the gutting of police resources — goes largely unmentioned. The capital is being policed by overworked officers, operating out of fewer and fewer stations, with little to no political advocacy for better funding.

There are strong rumours that the current 36 stations may be halved. If that happens, London — a city often held up as one of the world’s most important — would be trying to operate a modern police service from fewer than 20 locations. It’s just not sustainable.

And the bigger question remains — why is no one fighting this? Where are the voices from those in authority? Where are the campaigns to defend public safety infrastructure? If you’re unhappy with the police response, it’s time to look beyond the badge — and question those in charge of funding, resourcing, and shaping what policing in London actually looks like.

This isn’t just a policy failure. It’s a growing public safety crisis. And the longer we ignore it, the worse it will get.

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.