Wandsworth Council responds to expected closure of last full-time police front counter

The borough has already seen the closure of front counters at Putney, Battersea and Tooting in recent years, as part of wider Met Police cost-saving measures across London.

Council Leader Simon Hogg said:

“This will be deeply worrying news for local people. A visible police presence really matters, and every community deserves to feel safe and supported.

“Wandsworth has already lost front counters in Putney, Battersea and Tooting. If Lavender Hill closes too, it would be the first time in living memory that there’s no full-time police station open to the public in our borough.

“We understand the Met is under pressure, but we’re asking for urgent clarity on what this means for local policing and how trust, visibility and community reassurance will be maintained.”

The Council says it will continue to work in close partnership with the police to ensure communities remain safe, even in the face of changing police estate arrangements.

Recent joint initiatives include securing a closure order at the Doddington Estate to deal with persistent anti-social behaviour, and launching new police touchdown spaces in Roehampton and Putney to bring police and Council officers closer to the communities they serve.

The Council has also invested in CCTV and mobile monitoring units, relaunched Neighbourhood Watch across the borough, and strengthened support for businesses through the Business Against Crime partnership.

Council teams have been hosting regular drop-ins with residents, the police and community partners across the whole borough, creating space for people to raise concerns directly and see action taken in response.

“We will always stand up for our residents’ right to feel safe where they live,” said Cllr Hogg. “And we’ll continue pushing for the resources and visibility that neighbourhood policing needs in Wandsworth.”