PCC welcomes crime drop following police station opening

The opening of Petersfield police station this summer has been hailed a success by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones.

Between its doors opening in June and September 29th, the number of crimes reported in the town dropped by 12.8% compared to the same four months last year.

Its introduction followed a pledge by the PCC to improve police visibility across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The station, which is based in the old Barclays Bank building in The Square, has placed neighbourhood policing teams in the heart of the community.

Residents, business owners, and visitors have been able to go into the station to report crime, share information, see their Local Bobby or seek advice.

Donna Jones said: “I’m really encouraged to see the difference the opening of Petersfield police station has made in just four short months.

“When I became Police and Crime Commissioner, I promised to make policing more visible across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

“I’ve done that in a number of ways including the introduction of Local Bobbies and by opening police stations as points of contact for the public.

“The results we’re seeing in Petersfield are tangible evidence that having police officers on hand, in our communities, is getting criminals off our streets and helping people feel safer.”

Petersfield was the eighth police station to be opened by the PCC and there are more on the way.

In July, the PCC announced three front desks are being created in Shanklin, Bishop’s Waltham and Alton as part of the second phase of her plan to bring police closer to communities and deliver excellent local policing.

Work is also expected to get underway at the end of October on the modernisation of Gosport Police Station.

The station closed in 2016 and is undergoing significant renovations to bring it back to life to become a vital policing hub for the town’s community.

Police visibility and engagement remain among the Police Commissioner’s top priorities. The reopening of stations and front desks across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight emphasises that.