Merton Council convened an extraordinary meeting to discuss the importance of community policing and the future of police stations in the borough. Councillors debated the need to maintain a visible police presence and ensure public trust in the police. Amendments were proposed by both the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, but neither was successful, and ultimately, the council agreed to discuss the original motion.

Police Stations and Community Policing

The council convened to discuss a motion stating that Effective community policing builds public trust in the police - which is essential for policing by consent - and guaranteeing the future of police stations in Merton is a key part of that.

The discussion was prompted by concerns about potential closures of police stations and front desk counters in Merton, and the meeting was called to address these concerns and reaffirm the council's commitment to maintaining a strong police presence in the community.

The council report notes that Merton is consistently ranked as one of the safest boroughs in London, and that a key factor in maintaining that position is the presence of the two police stations and their front desk counters in Mitcham and Wimbledon.

The report also refers to the Metropolitan Police's 'New Met for London 2' consultation¹, and notes that Merton Council submitted a formal response calling on the Met to ensure effective implementation of the recommendations set out in the plan, including those on strengthening neighbourhood policing.

The council has expressed deep concern that, despite years operating under the threat of potential closure, the futures of Mitcham and Wimbledon Police Stations remain unclear. They believe that the uncertainty around this decision risks severely affecting the trust and confidence of Merton residents.

The council also responded to proposals to close front desk services at both Mitcham and Wimbledon Police Stations, raising concerns about the detrimental impact this will have on local communities. They argue that closing the desks could prevent vulnerable victims from reporting crimes on a face-to-face basis.

The council requested statistics on the usage of the front desks in Mitcham and Wimbledon Police Stations, in order to understand how these have been considered in the decision-making process for the proposed closures.

The council offered support to the police to improve the conditions of the Police Stations so they can best serve the local police and the community, including through the planning process if that were required, as it is understood from the South West Basic Command Unit that both Mitcham and Wimbledon Police Stations are currently in a significantly poor state of disrepair .

The council also emphasised the need for clear outcomes from previous community engagement carried out, such as the results from the five 'New Met for London 1' events held in Merton to be shared, to ensure actions can be made accountable and learnings taken forward.

The council noted that Merton achieved the best overall neighbourhood crime reductions across London during 2023-24, and that these statistics are a testament to the model of neighbourhood policing and a long-term partnership approach to reducing crime and keeping Merton as one of the safest boroughs in London.

The council has regularly lobbied and campaigned to keep the local Police Stations in Mitcham and Wimbledon open, including writing to the Deputy Mayor of London for Policing and Crime, meeting with the Deputy Mayor of London for Policing and Crime alongside other London Boroughs, and raising the future of Merton's Police Stations through local policing structures.

Amendments to the Motion

Liberal Democrat Amendment

Councillor Paul Kohler moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Victoria Wilson, to add a recommendation that the council consider further initiatives to strengthen policing by consent. This included:

• Creating better opportunities for local representative groups to review and challenge policing practices constructively.
• Working with the Borough Commander, SW London Borough Commander Unit (BCU)² and other BCU partners to develop ways to monitor and measure the effectiveness of police reforms.
• Working with the Borough Commander and Metropolitan Police Service to minimise the quantity and frequency of officers being abstracted to large-scale operations in Central London, thereby maintaining visibility in local areas.
• Ensuring that responses to public consultations are published in a timely manner as a matter of course to promote transparency and openness.

The amendment noted that in the first half of 2025, Merton police officers have been abstracted to other boroughs for 14,492 hours, a 58% increase from last year, and that they now spend one-fifth of their working time outside Merton, leaving fewer officers on the streets when residents need them most.

Conservative Amendment

Councillor Nick McLean moved an amendment, seconded by Councillor Thomas Barlow, to add recommendations that:

• The Cabinet lobby the Mayor of London, the Deputy Mayor of London for Crime and Policing, and Sir Mark Rowley, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to ensure that the police station counters at Wimbledon and Mitcham police stations and the police stations themselves are kept open permanently.
• The Cabinet support the Conservative campaign to establish a permanent police base for Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Morden located within the Civic Centre.
• The Cabinet instruct officers to draw up a list of options that could be taken by LB Merton if the police station counters at Wimbledon and Mitcham are closed to ensure that residents can easily report crimes.

Outcome of Amendments

Both the Liberal Democrat and Conservative amendments were put to a vote and were unsuccessful, with 27 votes for and 28 votes against each. The original motion was then agreed.