The fight is on to stop the closure of Wimbledon Police Station, which campaigners say is essential for protecting revellers in the night-time economy  - as well as visitors to the world's most famous tennis tournament.

Merton Council leader Stephen Alambritis has now written a letter to home secretary Amber Rudd and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to demand a halt to the proposed closure of the Queens Road station, which is the result in government’s funding cuts. 

He said: “Closing Wimbledon Police Station - a much-used station where crime and anti-social behaviour related to the night time economy- is an issue.

“Additionally, the annual Wimbledon Tennis Championships the population doubles and it requires a significant police presence and relies on a nearby police station for processing of crimes. It is important both police stations at Wimbledon and Mitcham are retained.”

On September 13, Merton's Labour Council agreed a motion which opposed the government’s cuts to the Met's funding and expressed support for both local police stations remaining open.

The letter from Cllr Alambritis to the home secretary, dated October 13, states: “The recent general election showed that the public are losing patience with your government’s austerity agenda which has done nothing to make the country more financially stable.

"It is now time for you to look again at this £1bn cut to police funding and to instead commit your government to adequately funding the work our brave police staff do in keeping us safe”

The letter added: “Our residents will be particularly concerned that, at a time when we rely so much on the Met police to protect us from new and worrying terrorist threats, you would slash funding to such an extent.”

Under proposals, each of the Met's 32 boroughs will be left with one 24-hour counter. There are currently 73 working counters, down from 136 since 2013

Estimates show that closing "poorly used" front counters will save £10m each year, which is the equivalent to the cost of 170 police constables.

Only 8 per cent of crimes were reported at police front counters in 2016, down from 2 per cent in 2006, according to official figures. About 70% of crimes are reported by phone.

Under the plans, remaining police buildings will get upgraded IT services while frontline officers will be provided with tablet computers - in an an effort to boost the reporting of crime online.