UXBRIDGE police station must remain open, the Met Commissioner has been told by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

He told Sir Mark Rowley he had listened to the concerns of residents and campaigners, and believed it was in the best interests of the community for the station to stay open.   

The closure of some police stations in the capital is being considered by the Met as part of cost savings.

In a letter to the Commissioner, the Mayor outlines why he believes that, under Sir Mark’s leadership and after the findings of a review by Baroness Casey, the Met should retain more of its buildings, including Uxbridge, from which officers can work.   

He adds that, in the interests of Londoners, the decisions around key police stations be bought forward.   

The announcement about Uxbridge police station comes just over two weeks before the parliamentary by-election in the town.

Sadiq Khan said: “I’m proud that, thanks to our extra investment from City Hall, we’re once again restoring neighbourhood policing to our local communities.

“And I’ve also been listening to residents and campaigners in places like Uxbridge who have been telling me how having a local police station in their area makes them feel much safer.”

One of Mr Khan’s potential opponents in next year’s mayoral elections is less than impressed at the timing of the announcement.

Susan Hall, who hopes to win the Conservative nomination, said: “The Met Police is not a toy that Sadiq Khan can use for his political games.

“Residents in Uxbridge are seriously concerned about his appalling decision to close the station, and he has now U-turned only because his disastrous ULEZ expansion is threatening Labour’s prospects of winning the by-election.”