Both Edmonton and Tottenham police stations are set to be closed to the public as part of cuts proposed by the Met Police

Enfield Council leader Ergin Erbil (left) and Haringey Council leader Peray Ahmet (right) want police front counters in Edmonton and Tottenham to remain open

The leaders of Enfield and Haringey councils have written a joint letter to the boss of the Metropolitan Police and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood demanding a “clear commitment” to maintaining “an in-person police service” in every borough.

Enfield Council leader Ergin Erbil and Haringey Council leader Peray Ahment both want to avoid the closures of the public-facing front counters at Edmonton and Tottenham police stations, as currently proposed, while also suggesting alternative solutions if the closures cannot be stopped.

In their letter, the pair write: “We of course fully understand the financial pressures facing the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] and the need to prioritise frontline policing, but there are serious concerns about the negative impact that closing the front counter at Edmonton and Tottenham Police Station will have on the great progress we’ve made together.

“Front counters are more than just a reporting point, they’re a vital access route for individuals who may be vulnerable, digitally excluded, socially isolated, or in crisis, and as we have seen first-hand, Edmonton and Tottenham Police Station’s front counters are always busy and play a vital role in making policing accessible to everyone.

“At the recent council leaders meeting on the closure of police front counters, A/C [Assistant Commissioner Matt] Twist agreed to hold a further joint meeting with the respective Leaders of Enfield Council and Haringey Council, to review the decision to close the current police front counters in Tottenham and Edmonton.

“This was due to the impact on the Clear Hold Build (CHB) programme across the five wards covering Northumberland Park, Upper Edmonton and Edmonton Green. The two Police Stations are within or close to the CHB footprint, and the impact of closing both front counters would have a detrimental effect on the progress made and partnership investment. The proposed closure of Police Station front counters in both boroughs’ risks undermining the investment and momentum we’ve built together in these communities.

“A/C Twist informed that revised plans exist, but he was not in a position to share them at the time. This lack of detail makes it difficult for local partners and authorities to make fully informed decisions. A/C Twist agreed to review this decision following a joint meeting with council leaders.

“Beyond the practical implications, there’s also a broader issue of public confidence. In communities where trust in institutions is already stretched, the closure of front counters can easily be seen as a step back. That perception risks undoing the progress we’ve made in building better community and Police relationships.”

In a number of bullet points at the end of the joint letter, Cllr Erbil and Cllr Ahmet call for the Met’s commitment to “maintaining some level of in-person police service in every London borough, especially in areas of high need” and “a faster rollout of police hubs, co-designed with local communities and located where they’re most needed”.

Prior to last year’s election, Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan pledged in his manifesto to “maintain a 24-hour police front office counter in every borough” but, this summer, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that 18 out of 37 counters were set to be closed, including those in Edmonton and Tottenham, while Wood Green is proposed to reopen as a replacement to serve both Enfield and Haringey boroughs.

In August, Twist told the London Assembly the move would save £7million, helping fill a £260million funding gap. The assistant commissioner justified the closures by suggesting crime reporting at station front counters had significantly reduced in recent years, to just 5%, “as people have shifted to the use of phones and online means”.

Meanwhile, in September, Khan said that closing almost half of London’s police station front counters would be a “pragmatic” decision and improve safety for Londoners. The London mayor claimed that the Metropolitan Police proposal to cut the number of front counters would see more funding go into visible neighbourhood policing.

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