Front Counters Announcement

Title: Changes to front counters in Ealing

Dear Residents,  

I am writing to inform you that from Tuesday 3 March 2026, the front counter at Acton Police Station will no longer be available 24/7 and will be changing its service to extended hours.  

From Tuesday 3 March, this front counter will be open from Monday to Friday, 10:00 – 22:00, and Saturday to Sunday, 09:00 – 19:00. 

If you need to report a crime outside of these hours, our front counters that are open 24 hours are: 

2 Agar St, London WC2N 4JP 

43 Lewisham High St, London SE13 5JZ 

Alternatively, you can report an incident by: 

If a crime is happening right now or if someone is in immediate danger, please call 999. 

You can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form. 

Why are these changes being made?  

The way people contact the police has changed.  

Since 2012, reports made at front counters have dropped by 60%. At some of the quieter locations, we’re seeing fewer than three reports a day. And overnight, only one in every 2,000 crimes is reported at a front counter.  

We’re adapting to how Londoners engage with us. These changes help us to focus our resources on where communities need us most – visible, local policing that keeps our streets safe. 

Won’t the reduction of hours and front counter closures make London less safe?  

What makes London safer is as many officers as possible on the frontline, tackling and driving down crime.  

Today, 95% of crime reports are made through other channels, not at front counters. 

These changes will free up approximately 3,000 officer hours, allowing extra resources to investigate crimes, update victims and step-up our action on key priorities like knife crime, robbery and anti-social behaviour. 

Will it make a difference?  

We are investing significantly in neighbourhood policing, and we are already seeing results:  

The Met is reducing a £260 million funding gap. This means making tough choices to ensure our shrinking resources are focused where they have the greatest impact. 

These changes will deliver £7 million of savings meaning we can focus as much resource as possible on frontline policing that keep you safe.