New Cowes Police Station Officially Opened

The Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, is continuing to deliver on her promise to drive up police visibility with the official opening of the new Cowes police station. The PCC and the Chief Constable, Scott Chilton, cut the ribbon in front of the building on the High Street in Cowes on Friday 12 January 2024. It is the first police station to open as part of the PCC's pledge to reopen 10 more police stations and front counters to the public across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight over the next 18 months.

PCC Donna Jones said: "The public have consistently told me they want more police stations, more police officers, and more visibility of the police so they can feel safer and be safer. "The Chief Constable and I are working day in day out to ensure that police officers are in the heart of all communities.

"This official opening marks another important step in the fight against criminals, enabling swifter justice, further police engagement, and more protection and support for victims." Chief Constable, Scott Chilton, added:

"I made commitments to the local people of the Isle of Wight that I would further strengthen policing directly in the towns and villages on the Island. "I am delighted to see neighbourhood policing return to the heart of Cowes, as it is only right that local people have direct access to their local officers." The new station in Cowes will be open to the public for drop-ins and pre-arranged appointments.

Officers will be ready to welcome the public to drop in and report a crime, meet their local team or just get advice weekly from January 19. Further opening times will be advertised on the screen at front of the police station and on the Isle of Wight Police social media pages.

PCC Donna Jones added: "I'm delighted to have opened the new Cowes police station today, and I'm not stopping there because I'll also be reopening Ryde police station later this year. "That means residents, businesses and communities across the Island will have three publicly accessible police stations."

Ryde police station will be open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, whilst Newport will continue to be open to the public every day. Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely, said: "I would like to thank Donna Jones for her hard work in reopening a police station in Cowes.

"Donna and I have been working to deliver a better deal on policing. "The result is that, with additional resource, crime has reduced and police officers are becoming more accessible to the public once again." The plan to reopen 10 more police stations and front counters to the public was announced by the Police and Crime Commissioner last September, increasing from 13 to 23 in total across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The successful recruitment of 650 extra police officers and the Commissioner's commitment to bring back named 'Local Bobbies' to every community are also key components of the PCC's drive to increase police visibility across the two counties.