Wimbledon police station closes its counter: Here's how locals feel
Plus: Latest news on Crossrail 2
Good morning, Wimblers — I hope that everyone has had a lovely week.
This week, we’ve hit the streets of Wimbledon to ask locals how they feel about the imminent closure of the Wimbledon police station front desk. We’ve also got your usual news snippets, a great property of the week and some fantastic recommendations for the weeks ahead.
We’ve answered a recent Ask The Wimble question below. If you have questions about the area, do get in touch by emailing zak@thewimble.com with the subject line “Ask The Wimble”.
We’re still on the lookout for great local heroes. Thanks for your nominations so far! If you or anyone else might be a good fit for a story, get in touch.
Other than that, happy reading!
News snippets 🗞
🚑 A person was left fighting for their life last week after an incident at Raynes Park station. Emergency services were alerted shortly after 10am on Wednesday 11 February after reports of a casualty on the tracks. Police later confirmed that the person’s injuries were life-threatening and that they had been rushed to hospital. Read more here.
🎾 Wimbledon has said that it will keep its backstage cameras despite players voicing their concerns. Debate about their use was sparked after Coco Gauff was filmed at the Australian Open this year smashing her racket in frustration after her quarter-final defeat to Elina Svitolina. After the video quickly went viral, Gauff said that she “tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera, because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets”. But despite concerns, Wimbledon highlighted the benefit of having backstage cameras in warm-down areas, while stressing that it was aware of the need to prioritise players’ welfare. Read more about the situationhere.
🎭 The Bodyguard is officially mid-run at the New Wimbledon Theatre. You probably know the songs. You probably know the highs and lows. You probably even know how it ends. But you still want to see it again anyway! Grab your tickets here.
This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️
Caddi Club is back with a new deal for the Six Nations! A burger and a pint is just £17 on any given match day. Of course, if rugby isn’t your thing, you can still pop in for a spot of golf, a bite to eat and something to drink. Just click the button below to learn more and to book your table or golf bay.
Ask The Wimble❓
You asked: What is happening with Crossrail 2?
Answer: Unfortunately, not very much. Whilst there has been renewed excitement for the project (see here and here), Crossrail 2 remains largely unfunded and deprioritised. It’s also worth noting that the Elizabeth line (Crossrail 1) missed its original opening date by four years and went £4 billion over budget. There is a preferred route for the proposed Crossrail 2, but this remains unconfirmed (see image below).
If you have any questions about the area, send us an email with the subject line “Ask The Wimble”: zak@thewimble.com. These questions can be about anything: Do you know when X bus route will return? Do you know how many strawberries are consumed at Wimbledon each year? Do you know when X restaurant is opening? These questions are entirely up to you.
Property of the week 🏡
Well, what do we have here? This five-bedroom terraced house, just off The Broadway, is only a brief walk to Wimbledon and South Wimbledon station. So far, I’ve counted three fireplaces (but there could be more), and I’m particularly fond of that exposed brick in the kitchen-dining room. This particular home will set you back £1.195m, which, for Wimbledon, is not beyond the pale. Check out more photos here.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🐶
🍷 Wine tasting: Rosé champagne and sparkling wines of the world: This is for the pink fizz lovers among us. Rosé champagne is actually rarer than many of us realise, and it can come in many different styles and shades. This tasting will showcase six different wines from vineyards in France, New Zealand, England and more, paired with nibbles from Jeroboam’s deli range. Tickets are £40 per person — reasonable, when you think that a glass of champagne will set you back £20 in most central London bars these days.
Where: Jeroboams, Wimbledon Village
When: Friday 20 February, 6–7.30pm
🐶 Puppy yoga: Yes, this is as adorable as it sounds. And what’s more: you don’t even need to have a puppy to attend! This yoga session is all about reducing your stress and anxiety as well as helping the little pups to socialise. If you want to know which puppies will be in attendance, check out Puppy Yoga’s socials. Tickets are £35 and can be bought here.
Where: 12–14 Hartfield Rd
When: Sunday 22 February (at various times)
👩👦 Calm Parenting: Understanding Stress and Emotional Regulation: This webinar offers a space to explore why moments of stress between parents and children can happen and how to respond with a sense of calm and connection. The webinar will be hosted by Dr. Kerri Walster, who specialises in supporting families with children under the age of 10. This event is entirely free and can be booked here.
Where: Online
When: Tuesday 24 February, 10am
🩺 Prostate health webinar: Register for this free Prostate Health Webinar from Nuffield Health and hear their specialists discuss revolutionary treatment options for an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. You can get guidance from specialists, understand your treatment options and hear real patient stories. Book your spot here.
Where: Online
When: Thursday 26 February, 7pm
🍰 Love Wimbledon monthly market: Each market brings fresh finds and seasonal favourites, with new traders joining regularly. Whatever it is that you fancy, this market has it: from Bombay Delight’s award-winning curries to secondhand vinyl classics courtesy of So Pop Vinyl.
Where: The Piazza, Wimbledon
When: Saturday 28 February – Sunday 1 March, 11am – 6pm
Wimbledon police station is closing its counter: What does this mean for you? 🚨
The news broke at the end of January that Wimbledon and Mitcham would lose their police counters. In a letter published on Friday 30 January, the Met confirmed that neither station will retain a public-facing counter. The closest 24/7 police counters will now be in Charing Cross and Lewisham. London Now reported that these closures breach a previous commitment made by the Mayor of London that every London borough would retain at least one 24-hour police counter. But it seems they’re going ahead nonetheless. This week, we hit the streets of Wimbledon to ask locals how they felt about this.
Kristine (manager of The Fire Station Café)
Personally, I think the counter’s closure is ridiculous. People need the option to go inside the police station and speak to someone about the issue they are having. It’s really important to have the option of face-to-face interaction because people feel safer that way. Let’s just hope the police station stays open as a whole — we have police now, and people still feel unsafe in this area. If the police station closes, I think crime will only get worse.
Bob
The crime round here is not as bad as other areas in London, but we still have crime: bikes, violent attacks, theft. I remember a time when people were arrested and held in the cells at the police station before being taken to the courts down the road… all on the same day! My worry is that this is just the start of them closing the whole station down. And what will we do then?
Ed
To be fair, I haven’t had to use the police station’s counter apart from one time when I was handing in a lost wallet. But whilst it probably won’t affect me personally — and hasn’t impacted my life so far — I think it’s a shame. I think it’s important to have someone you can speak to in person for a lot of people.
Elizabeth
People want to fight this decision. Now all we can do is ring 999 if we have a problem. And in the past I’ve popped in and used that counter. It’s sad that it’s gone. I also think that people are starting to feel as if they can’t affect anything. Locals have tried to keep the counter open, but no one has listened.
James
I don’t actually think it’s a huge issue. I rarely use the counter, if ever. What’s more important is that they retain their operational presence in the area. I think we should focus on just keeping the station open. That said, I do recognise that this will make admin a lot harder for people. The nearest 24/7 counters being in Charing Cross and Lewisham is definitely a nuisance.
Marc
If they closed the whole station, that would be terrible for the area. I think even with the counter closure, it’s still a problem. To know you have somewhere and someone to talk to if a problem arises is very important. Think about the people who live alone, particularly the elderly, who rely on that service. Younger generations are used to calling up the police and getting a reference number, but I fear that older people will take that as being fobbed off. Having a counter also gives a calming presence to the area. Think about the smaller retailers who can’t afford security — being able to walk in and report an incident is something that they need. Regardless of whether or not the closure makes a massive difference, perception will now be that there is less of a police presence in the area, and I think that quite a few people will see this as the precursor to the station closing entirely.
Laura
I’ve just moved to the area, so it is a bit frustrating. I don’t really know why they’ve decided to close it. It’s doing far more good than harm, so it seems unnecessary to get rid of it. Having a counter gives you a certain feeling of safety and security, and it’s annoying now that it’s gone.
If you have any thoughts about the station closing, do drop a comment below.
Question of the week 🔍
Last week, I asked you which Wimbledon pub won the CAMRA South West London Pub of the Year in 2025. The answer: the Sultan (they also won in 2023).
Q: What is the tallest building in Merton
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. Do keep sharing our newsletter with friends and family. If you have a story that you think is right for The Wimble, get in touch: zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.
I find the closure of the police counter very unsettling, especially as a woman who often travels home alone late due to work commitments. While I have only used it once before, I’ve felt safer knowing it was there. I’ve had to phone 999 before and waited seven hours before officers attended in response; having a police counter provides that immediate response and refuge that is sometimes needed. It is very disconcerting and disappointing.