Stop Sadiq Khan's Manifesto Breaking Police Cuts
From November 2025, both the front counters at Bexleyheath and Bromley Police Stations will have their opening hours reduced. Despite Sadiq Khan promising to keep at least one twenty-four-hour front counter in each borough at the last Mayoral Election. The front counters will now only open between 10am until 10pm on Monday to Fridays, and between 9am and 7pm on Saturdays and Sunday.
Both Bexleyheath and Bromley have thriving night-time economies. Crime does not respect business hours. The front counters are an important way of helping people stay safe while enjoying the night-time venues. They provide a point of sanctuary for people feeling unsafe and somewhere to report a crime in person, especially if you are unable to access your phone or it has been stolen. They are of crucial importance to assist anyone fleeing domestic violence, exploitation or modern-day slavery.
Reducing the hours of front counters has a disproportionate impact on victims of violence against women and girls, and vulnerable groups within communities. A Police Equality Impact Assessment in 2017 recommended that each borough should have at least one twenty-four-hour front counter as a means to limiting the disproportionately impact of this. These proposals therefore remove this safeguard.
The reduction in hours does not reflect that since Bexleyheath and Bromley Police Stations became the only twenty-four-hour front counters in their respective boroughs; both have seen increases in the number of crimes reported per day at the front counter. Since 2017, Bromley has had an increase of 2.1 crimes reported per day (an 88% increase) and Bexleyheath now has 2.6 crimes reported per a day (a 44% increase).
Reducing the front counters is another policy which is making the police more distance from the neighbourhoods they serve.
At the London Mayoral Elections in May 2024 Sadiq Khan promised to maintain at least one twenty-four-hour counters in every borough. He made this promise knowing the financial pressures of the Metropolitan Police. He must keep his promise to those living in Greater London.