A swathe of police stations in west London could close under proposals being considered by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Police stations in Ealing, Kensington and Chelsea, Hillingdon and Hounslow are all threatened under plans which have gone out for public consultation.

Mr Khan says he has no choice but to take drastic action in a bid to protect frontline policing, blaming the government’s failure to properly fund London’s police service.

He is looking to reduce police front counters in a move which could see stations closed in Notting Hill, Ealing, Southall, Uxbridge and Chiswick.

Under proposals, 24/7 counter at Uxbridge would be moved Hayes, which is currently a daytime facility. Notting Hill's 24/7 counter would be moved to Kensington.

A petition has been set up to retain Notting Hill police station in Ladbroke Grove, which has been signed by more than 700 people.

According to 38 degrees online petition, Kensington and Chelsea has the second highest crime rate of all London, and of the 73 stations in the capital, is the 16th most visited by the public for reporting a crime.

Notting hill police station

It reads: “Since 2010 the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) has already reduced the number of police stations open to the public in London from 149 to 73.

“To resolve a further budget reduction of £400 million during the next four years, MOPAC now wants to reduce those 73 to 32.

“Staff at Notting Hill would move to Kensington police station, which would then be the only remaining police station in the borough.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick

According to City Hall, just 8% of crimes were reported at police front counters in 2016, down from 22% in 2006.

This compares to around 70% of crimes reported on the phone, with three-quarters of those calls made to the non-emergency 101 number.

It also states more than a third (37%) would like to contact police via its website, social media or other digital methods.

By the end of this year, every London ward will have two dedicated ward officers and one PCSO and by next summer, these officers will have access to the most up-to-date mobile technology – allowing them to access and input information while on the beat that previously they could only do at a desk in a police station.

Mr Khan said: “The huge Government cuts to the Metropolitan Police Service have left us with no choice but to take drastic action to protect the frontline of policing.

“My top priority is keeping Londoners safe, and every pound saved by closing a front counter is a pound of savings that we do not have to find by reducing the frontline.

“By freeing up officers and moving them closer to their communities, they will be able to spend more time on the beat to tackle the issues that matter most to Londoners, such as knife crime, anti-social behaviour, hate crime and extremism, and domestic abuse.

“We will still be able to maintain a 24/7 front counter service in every borough and are improving the telephone and online services that Londoners value so highly.”

Earlier this month Mr Khan pledged to keep Harrow station open after hundreds signed a petition.

A public consultation is now taking place and will run until October 6.

To see the public consultation click here .

To see the petition to keep open Notting Hill police station click here .

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