For Immediate Release
6 August 2025
Councillor Sirajul Islam, Leader of the Tower Hamlets Labour Group and elected representative for Bethnal Green East, together with Unmesh Desai AM, London Assembly Member for City and East, today wrote to Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Kaya Comer-Schwartz and Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist to urge an immediate halt to plans to close the 24-hour front counter at Bethnal Green Police Station.
The letter warns that closing the only continuously staffed point of contact between local residents and the Metropolitan Police in Tower Hamlets will isolate vulnerable Londoners, particularly older people, those with disabilities and members of non-English speaking communities, at a time when concerns over knife crime and anti-social behaviour are intensifying.
“Bethnal Green’s front desk provides reassurance and builds the trust that is essential for neighbourhood policing,” said Councillor Sirajul Islam. “Removing this vital service will lead to under-reporting of crime, slower response times and a loss of confidence in our local police.”
“Telephone lines and online forms cannot replace face-to-face contact,” added Unmesh Desai AM. “We owe it to our constituents to ensure they can report incidents and seek advice in person when they need help.”
In their joint letter, Cllr Sirajul Islam and Unmesh Desai AM make two clear requests:
- Suspend the proposed closure of the Bethnal Green front counter until a full impact assessment has been carried out on community safety, accessibility and crime-reporting rates in Bethnal Green East.
- Convene a meeting with local councillors, the Tower Hamlets Community Safety Partnership and representatives from affected communities to explore cost-effective options that maintain essential in-person policing access.
They have offered to meet at the earliest opportunity, alongside Tower Hamlets colleagues, to discuss constructive solutions that balance the financial pressures on the Metropolitan Police with the safety and well-being of Tower Hamlets residents.
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