Southwark Liberal Democrats have joined London Assembly Member Gareth Roberts AM at City Hall to present their petition to save Walworth police front counter to Sadiq Khan.
The petition, which has received widespread support from Southwark residents, demands that the manifesto-breaking cuts by Sadiq Khan be reversed.
In May last year, Sadiq Khan promised that every borough in London would have a 24/7 police front counter – now only two will stay open all hours.
In Southwark, Walworth is the only remaining front counter open to the general public, after Sadiq Khan closed Southwark and Peckham. After fears that it would be axed entirely, it was revealed that it would shut its doors at night. The Liberal Democrats have been running a campaign to keep it open so that people have somewhere safe to go in an emergency,report crimes in person or speak to the police outside office hours.
Commenting, Southwark Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain said:
“Southwark has the fifth highest level of crime in London, and yet the response from the Labour party at every level seems to be more manifesto-breaking cuts.
With the support of City Hall Liberal Democrats, we’ve taken our petition direct to the Mayor Sadiq Khan to make sure he understands the strength of feeling among local people about his broken promises.
Next week, we need to see the Labour Chancellor step up to give the Met fair funding to keep these vital resources open, and make sure that every community has local bobbies they know and trust. Southwark Liberal Democrats are committed to delivering fair funding and doubling community policing.”
