The London Assembly has demanded urgent answers from Mayor Sadiq Khan and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley over the Met's controversial property sell-off programme, which has seen more than 200 police stations and buildings sold since 2012.
The Assembly's Police and Crime Committee is questioning the transparency of the estate shake-up, which has generated hundreds of millions of pounds through property sales across the capital. Members are seeking detailed breakdowns of which assets are being sold, why specific stations were chosen for closure, and how the proceeds are being reinvested in policing.
The Met justifies the programme as essential modernisation, arguing that many traditional police stations are underutilised and expensive to maintain. The force says funds are better spent deploying officers in communities and investing in digital capabilities rather than maintaining costly buildings.
But critics warn that station closures are damaging visible policing and making it harder for residents to access police services. Community groups argue the sell-offs undermine public trust and leave neighbourhoods feeling abandoned, particularly affecting elderly residents and those without digital access who rely on face-to-face contact.
The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime oversees the property strategy, claiming it delivers value for money whilst maintaining effective policing. However, the Assembly says it lacks crucial detail about long-term impacts on local communities and future sale plans.
The dispute highlights tensions between fiscal efficiency and accessible policing in London. With opposition parties and residents' groups increasingly vocal about the effects of station closures, the Assembly's intervention puts pressure on both the Mayor and Met leadership to justify their approach and demonstrate how the estate changes serve Londoners' safety needs.