THE MAYOR of London has confirmed two Redbridge police stations will close despite a petition signed by hundreds in protest against the cutbacks.

Sadiq Khan’s Public Access Strategy confirmed Woodford and Barkingside police stations will close, leaving Redbridge with only one police station with a 24/7 front counter in Ilford.

The cuts are part of the Mayor of London’s attempt to axe £400 million from The Met’s budget over the next four years.

Plans to slash police stations were announced by the Mayor’s Office for Crime and Policing in July and a consultation on the proposals ran until last month.

An anti-cuts petition against the closures organised by Redbridge Liberal Democrats sealed more than 1,000 signatures.

The party also had a motion approved by Redbridge Council officially opposing closures on Thursday, September 14.

Councillor Gwyneth Deakins, leader of Redbridge Lib Dems, accused Mr Khan of ignoring concerns.

She said: “It's a sad day for the west of Redbridge because our local police officers will be spending less time on our streets. 

“The Mayor of London has simply not listened to the concerns of residents either in Redbridge or in London as a whole.

“So-called public consultation doesn't seem to mean anything these days - it seems it is just a fig-leaf to cover decisions that have already been made.”

The front counter at Woodford station closed in the 2013 round of cuts. However, the building is still being used as a base for safer neighbourhood teams in the west of the borough.

Wes Streeting, Labour MP for Ilford North, backed Mr Khan’s decision and blamed the Tories for the closure.

He said: "Since 2010, the Tories have cut £600million from the Metropolitan Police with a further £400million set to be lost by 2021.

“We have seen the impact on police numbers and the loss of police stations in Redbridge - with Barkingside Police Station now the latest casualty of Tory cuts. 

"The Mayor of London is right to prioritise putting additional officers on the beat in communities and given the choice between losing police officers or losing police stations I don't blame him for the decision he has taken.

“But, as the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has warned this week, the Home Secretary cannot cut £400 million from the Met and reduce counter-terrorism funding without "severe consequences". This is an unacceptable risk to Londoners' safety.”

Megan Knight, Met communications officer for the East Area said: “Although there are changes being made to our police stations, there will be more officers on the streets across London and there are alternative ways in which the police can be contacted by members of public.

“Barkingside Police Station will close by the end of the year, with the Borough’s 24/7 front counter provided at Ilford.

“One of the factors behind this decision is that Barkingside Police Station receives 13 visitors and just over one crime report a day.

“Closing Barkingside police station will save the Met the equivalent of around six police constables.

“There’s no question that these have been difficult decisions to make, and we thank Redbridge residents for the feedback they have given as part of the consultation.”