Ealing Lib Dems ask the Met Police some difficult questions

Ealing Common Lib Dem Councillor Connie Hersch says there is more to do and lists three areas where the Met need to improve. 

A public meeting in Ealing with the Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley took place on Monday the 27th of October 2025. It was very well attended by the public and Liberal Democrats. The commissioner gave updates on changes in the force. 

The public will be aware of recent news of extremely bad behaviour at Charing Cross police station. Closer to home, we received the shocking news that the opening hours at Acton police station will be reduced from being a 24-hour service to be open only during the day. 

There are three main areas where the Ealing Liberal Democrats challenge the police and feel more could be done: 

1. The police say that 75% of Londoners trust the Met Police. Sadly, this does not reflect the Lib Dem engagement with residents and community groups in the borough of Ealing. Lib Dems' own polling shows that residents see crime and anti-social behaviour increasing and many commented about the lack of trust in the police. 
    
2. The Met had to “let go” about 1,500 staff who were not fitting the new culture strategy of the force, but which has also contributed further to the understaffing issue. 
    
3. It is important to ensure that local safer neighbourhood police stay in post for longer to help their work within the communities and familiarity with local issues. 

At the meeting there was a focus on the newly launched MET engage website (https:www.metengage.co.uk/) which signifies that the police are open to communication with the public. There is also a new website to report streets where women and girls might get harassed and don't feel safe (but not crime level): www.police.uk/streetsafe.

Councillor Connie Hersch - Crime, Anti-Social Behaviour, Communities and Culture Spokesperson said: "The Liberal Democrats say that the Met police is making efforts to build trust and improve their outcomes on crimes but many residents in Ealing remain critical of the police. The MET has suffered huge reputational damage through negative stories about officers’ behaviour which will not be easy to overcome with engagement with the local communities. This is a huge task but one that is critical for the police to get on top of.“