From March No 24 Hour Police Front Counter at Romford Station as Cuts Bite.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that the Romford front counter will no longer be open 24 hours a day from Tuesday, 3rd March, writes local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann.

The counter will be open between 10am and 10pm on Mondays through Fridays, and from 9am until 7pm on weekends.

Though controversial, the Met says the closures and reduced hours are necessary to help close a £260million funding gap. The changes will save the force £7m and free up 2,900 man hours.

A police spokesperson said: “The closures form part of a number of tough choices the Met is having to make in order to operate within a shrinking budget while tackling neighbourhood crime and ensuring communities see a more visible police presence.”

Police counters are used by residents to report crimes, seek advice, and access victim support services.

Conservative councillor David Taylor, who represents Romford for Havering Council, launched a petition last year to keep the Romford desk open 24 hours a day.

He said back in October, when the changes were announced, that the Met “needed to recognise Romford for what it is”.

“We are not a quaint Essex market town, we’re a bustling London centre,” he said. “Our policing needs to reflect that.”

There are currently 37 police desks across London, 32 of which are open 24 hours a day.

Under the new model, 25 will operate on reduced hours.

Ten are set to close entirely on Saturday, 28th February, including those in Chingford, Kensington and Wimbledon.

The changes reflect the changing nature of how people report crimes, the Met says, with 95% of reports made by the public online, over the phone, or directly with officers.

The Met’s data shows 3% of arson and criminal damage offences were reported directly to a police station, alongside 2% of burglaries and 7% of public order offences. Just 0.45% – 498 in total – of all drug reports were made at a police desk.

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