A police station on the Isle of Wight could reopen to the public.
Currently, only one — Newport Police Station — is open for public enquiries at its front desk.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, says she wants to increase the visibility of the force on the Island, which could mean a currently closed-to-the-public station reopens.
The idea is part of a £2 million scheme, which has also seen the PCC announce the reopening of central Portsmouth and Gosport, after refurbishment works.
A similar plan is under way for the Island, but no decision has been made over which station it could be.
Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for community protection, Cllr Karen Lucioni, said reopening a police station was her first priority when she came into the role.
The previous PCC, Michael Lane, closed them, but Cllr Lucioni said Mrs Jones and the new chief constable, Scott Chilton, are more about policing on the ground — calling it a real change of feeling.
The Ryde Town Councillor said a lot of residents had called for Ryde police station to return — arguing it would create trust again in the police.
Ryde councillor, Phil Jordan, is also hopeful the town’s police station will be the chosen one — increasing visibility and helping with anti-social behaviour issues.
He said:
“It is important for our community.
“Cllr Lucioni has worked hard to get the PCC to listen to us in a positive way.”
The current way of reporting crime, through 101 or via the police website, feels impersonal, Cllr Jordan said, but seeing the police would help.
He said:
“We wanted to a response to low-level crime, like anti-social behaviour, but previous PCCs were reluctant to do so, focusing on high-level crimes.
“Low-level crimes are the ones that have the most impact and are the most visible.
“The new PCC has got a different approach and that’s better, from a community point of view.”
Police on the Island work in offices in Ryde, Yarmouth, Cowes, Shanklin and Ventnor, as well as in Newport.
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