Fight to save Walworth’s 24/7 police front counter “not over”, say Southwark Lib Dems

Southwark Liberal Democrats have reacted to the news that Walworth’s police front counter – the last in Southwark – is not one of the 18 set to close entirely across London following their campaign to save it.  

However, it is not clear whether the counter will continue to operate 24/7, or whether it will operate with a reduced service.  

Southwark Liberal Democrats are campaigning to keep it open 24/7, to allow residents to access the police in-person at all times.  

The Met Police announced yesterday the list of front counters that will close – which represents a breach of Sadiq Khan’s manifesto promise to have a 24/7 front counter in every London Borough.  

London Liberal Democrats had also forced an extraordinary meeting of the Greater London Assembly to discuss the closures, where it was revealed from questioning by Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Hina Bokhari that the Deputy Mayor knew about the closures before the last GLA meeting on policing, but chose not to discuss it. The London Mayor Sadiq Khan did not attend the meeting.  

Commenting, Southwark Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain said:  

"The fight to save Southwark's last 24/7 front counter is not over - whilst it's a big win to learn it won't close entirely, there's still a big question mark over whether it will continue with a round the clock service. 

Sadiq Khan made a manifesto promise to have a 24/7 counter in every borough - he's broken that promise for Londoners in the 18 places that will lose their counter. We'll be writing to him to make sure he keeps to his word in Southwark."