Richmond Council has condemned the Metropolitan Police's decision to close the 24/7 front counter at Twickenham Police Station - the last remaining front counter in the borough - branding the move deeply concerning and a major blow to local policing visibility and public confidence.

Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council, said: "This is a shameful decision.

"When Richmond Police Station closed, residents were offered the reassurance that if they had any problems they could go to Twickenham police station.

The same assurance was offered when Teddington Police Station closed, and when Hampton Police Station closed. Now local residents are losing the very last police front counter in this borough.

"Following the decision to axe the Royal Parks Police, this is yet more evidence that the Mayor of London is failing in his duty to ensure the Government is providing sufficient funding to keep Richmond residents safe."

Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council (Credit: Richmond Council)

Richmond Council argues that the value of front counters cannot be measured in footfall alone - particularly when trust in policing is already fragile and some residents, especially vulnerable people, are unable to report crimes online or by phone.

Councillor Roberts added: "With this closure, the South West Borough Command will also lose its only 24/7 police desk, and the nearest 24/7 counters will be in Acton, Sutton, or Lambeth.

"This impacts more than 900,000 people across Richmond, Wandsworth, Merton, and Kingston.

"With the continued strain on resources across the borough and the city, residents already feel that their concerns about safety are not being addressed, and decisions like this undermine public confidence in local policing."