Twickenham, a name synonymous with rugby and community spirit, is facing a period of significant change as two major decisions—one regarding its police front counter and the other its iconic stadium—have sent ripples through the local area. On October 16, 2025, the Metropolitan Police confirmed the closure of Twickenham’s police front counter, a move designed to address a daunting £260 million funding shortfall. On the same day, Richmond Council delivered a partial verdict on the future of Allianz Twickenham Stadium’s event licensing, restricting the number of major non-sporting events despite the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) push for a dramatic expansion.
The closure of Twickenham’s police front counter is part of a broader, cost-saving strategy by the Met Police. According to Nub News, the force plans to keep 27 front counters open across London—seven more than initially proposed—after taking public feedback into account. Yet, Twickenham’s front counter is among those set to close, joining the likes of Kensington, Harrow, Wimbledon, and Chingford. Charing Cross and Lewisham police stations will remain open 24 hours a day, while the remaining 25 counters will operate on a more restricted schedule: weekdays from 10am to 10pm and weekends from 9am to 7pm.
This restructuring is expected to save £7 million annually and free up more than 2,900 hours of officer time each month for frontline policing. The Met says these changes are necessary to “shrink to live within its means.” Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist explained, “Londoners tell us they want more visible and responsive policing on the capital's streets, and that is exactly what we are going to deliver. We've listened carefully during our engagement process and, while our funding gap means we must reduce provision, we will keep more front counters open across London.”
Technology and changing habits have also played a role in the decision. The Met points out that 95% of crime reports are now made online, by phone, or directly to officers, reducing the reliance on physical front counters. To ensure continued access, phones will be installed outside closed stations, and residents will still be able to book in-person or video appointments. Traditional emergency lines—999 and 101—along with online reporting, remain available.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan welcomed the move to keep more counters open, attributing it to what he called “record-breaking funding from City Hall.” He emphasized ongoing support for the Met’s efforts to boost neighborhood policing and make officers more accessible. However, the decision hasn’t been universally celebrated. Local Liberal Democrat Assembly Member and Richmond Council Leader Gareth Roberts voiced concerns to the BBC, warning, “When you start losing bricks and mortar—the ability for people to walk in and speak to an officer—that's going to have a big impact on public confidence. This looks like police are retrenching, moving away from local communities. If it's front counters today, will it be police stations tomorrow?”
The Met insists that the restructuring is one of 15 “tough choices” it must make to live within its budget, with resources being redirected toward tackling neighborhood crime, robbery, and shoplifting. By March 2026, 4,800 officers and 700 staff will be redeployed into priority roles. The new model also includes investments in community “Met Engage” sessions at libraries, food banks, and local hubs, aiming to maintain meaningful public contact even as traditional access points close.
Meanwhile, just a stone’s throw from the soon-to-be-shuttered police counter, Allianz Twickenham Stadium—the historic home of England Rugby since 1909—has found itself at the center of a heated licensing debate. The RFU, owner of the stadium, had applied to scrap restrictions limiting the number of major non-sporting events, hoping to boost the annual cap from three to fifteen and increase event capacity from 55,000 to 75,000 spectators. The bid also sought permission to hold more events on weekdays, as part of a broader strategy to tackle financial pressures, especially after the stadium’s renaming under a sponsorship deal with insurance giant Allianz in September 2024.
Richmond Council, however, decided to grant the new licence only in part. The stadium may now extend the hours of smaller events, and indoor events can run until 1am, with 36 occasions allowed up to 1:30am—primarily for graduations, weddings, and conferences. But the council maintained the cap on major non-sporting events at three per year and restricted concerts to just one day other than Saturday. The decision, reported by the Evening Standard, comes after a public hearing where residents voiced strong opposition, citing ongoing issues with crime, antisocial behavior, and disruption during large events.
Solicitor Ewan McGregor, representing the RFU, argued before the council that the original licence restrictions were out of step with the modern concert market. “There is an increasing demand for stadium bowl concerts. The UK is the world capital for these events and, in the UK, London is at the centre. The licence restriction is out of step with the market and, as a consequence, promoters and artists are turning their back on Twickenham. Any local resident who would like to go and see an artist of the calibre that we would like to attract to the stadium have to travel into London, go to Wembley Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the O2 and the London Stadium,” he said.
The RFU pledged to invest in the local community and grassroots music with funds raised through hosting more concerts. However, residents were unconvinced. Eamon Delaney, a local resident, described the impact of events, saying, “We regularly suffer the indignity of drunken adults urinating on our property, shouting, swearing and sometimes fighting in the streets in full view and earshot of our children. When problems arise, the response from the RFU is inadequate. Complaints are raised, dealt with to the satisfaction of the RFU and things do not improve. Today, the RFU is a bad neighbour.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Alexander Ehmann echoed these concerns, telling the meeting, “The RFU has repeatedly failed to maintain effective control over crime and disorder linked to its events. Residents have reported persistent antisocial behaviour, alcohol-fuelled aggression, public urination, shouting in residential streets and damage to property.” He warned that the proposed changes “would only magnify existing issues and cause deeper disruption and risk to the community.”
The council’s Licensing Committee ultimately ruled against lifting the event cap “for the foreseeable future,” citing concerns about patron inebriation and dispersal methods. The committee’s report recommended that the RFU better engage with local residents and improve strategies for dispersing crowds, especially on weekdays when local roads and public transport are heavily used by the community.
Despite the setback, the RFU struck a conciliatory tone. In a statement, a spokesperson said, “While the granting of this licence is a positive step towards establishing a more modern framework for stadium operations, approval was only granted in part, and we are now reviewing the outcome carefully. As always, we remain committed to being the best neighbours we can be—continuing to invest significantly in minimising the impact of major events and actively supporting the local community we are proud to call home.”
As Twickenham navigates these changes, the community finds itself at a crossroads—balancing the need for modernization and financial stability with the preservation of public trust and neighborhood character. The coming years will reveal whether these decisions deliver the promised improvements or further strain the social fabric of this historic London suburb.
