No matter where you live in London, there is something you’re unlikely to stumble across often: the local police station. Little more than 15 years ago, the capital had 160 open police station counters. Today, the Standard reveals that number is 36, soon set to fall to 32 — just one per borough. If the public saw police on the streets and felt confident support would arrive immediately should it be called upon, things might be different. And while London is not lawless, an air of impunity hangs above street corners. Politicians play the blame game, but the impact of these closures is unmistakable.
A recent report by Dr Elisa Facchetti for the Institute for Fiscal Studies finds that the cost of station closures has fallen on other parts of society. Dr Facchetti estimates an 11 per cent direct rise in violent crime compared with areas where stations did not close. It also reduced response times and the overall reporting of offences. Local people are also less likely to report minor crimes if there is no police station nearby.
