The Metropolitan Police Service has announced it will keep 27 front counters open across the capital, including in Kingston, after listening to feedback from Londoners.

Two front counters will remain open 24 hours a day at the busiest sites - Charing Cross and Lewisham - while a further 25, including Kingston's, will be geographically spread across London and operate Monday to Friday, 10am until 10pm, and 9am until 7pm at weekends.

Seven more front counters will remain open than under a provisional proposal, after Londoners made clear that keeping one in their area was more important than having them available 24/7.

Despite the changes, this plan still delivers the same savings of £7 million as the Met says it "continues to prioritise its resources on frontline policing, making tough choices to close a £260 million funding gap".

The new model balances the savings with the desire for local access with the need to focus stretched resources on operational policing.

"The location of front counters will now be better aligned with the location of custody suites and demand," The Met says.

Assistant Commissioner, Matt Twist, said: "The Met is having to shrink to live within its means and as the public would expect, we are targeting our resources on a narrower set of their priorities to make London safer.

"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.

"But we have also listened to their views during an extensive engagement process and, while our funding gap means we must reduce provision, we will keep more front counters open across London."

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "The news that more police front counters will remain open - with extended opening hours - for members of the public is welcome.

"Whilst this is an operational policing decision, this action would not have been possible without record-breaking funding from City Hall.

"We will continue to support the Met to deliver what Londoners want - boosting visible neighbourhood policing on our streets and making local officers more accessible in our communities.

"We want to do more to build on the record reductions in violence and homicides achieved in the capital, and I will continue to support the police and make the case to government for the funding the Met needs - to ensure we can continue building a safer London for everyone."