BRAND NEW POLICE STATION IN COWES UNVEILED AS PUBLIC ‘GET WHAT THEY WANTED’

“We’ve opened Cowes Police Station because this is what the public wanted” – those were the words of Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones at the official opening of Cowes Police Station yesterday (Friday). PCC Jones and Scott Chilton, Chief Constable of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, unveiled the brand new facility in the heart of the North Wight town to gathered press and delegates. It is now 1 of just 2 public-facing stations on the Island. Speaking to those present at the opening, PCC Donna Jones thanked local contractors who carried out the work to transform the premises, Cowes Yacht Haven for their support as the landlords of the building and the wider Policing community. Among those present at the event were Island MP Bob Seely, Isle of Wight Council Chairman Claire Critchison, High Sheriff Dawn Haig-Thomas and Mayor of Cowes, John Nicholson. Throughout the morning passers-by remarked on how it was good to see Police in the street and that the new station was a welcome boost to the area. Even though the facility is named Cowes Police Station, PCC Donna Jones wanted to make it clear that the station is different from that of Newport Police Station. Speaking to Island Echo, she said:

“Well this is a local station so you will have the local Neighbourhood Policing Team here doing their admin and other things, but if the A-board is outside that means Police are here and you can pop on in. “This is about reconnection and making sure that we let the public speak to local officers in their community who will be investigating crimes in the local area and I, myself, have already received 2 bits of casework this morning, its what we’re here to do”

There are no holding cells at Cowes Police Station meaning any criminals will have to be taken to Newport. The station is also only open at advertised times only. PCC Jones also confirmed that Ryde Police Station will once again open to the public later this year.

“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 3 publicly accessible police stations.”

There used to be front-facing stations open across the Island including in Yarmouth, Ventnor and Shanklin, however, these were closed to the public and remain operational bases only. When asked why Cowes was chosen to receive a new station, PCC Jones said:

“I took on board the comments about where elderly communities and those who aren’t able to travel as much. “As well as this, the Neighbourhood Policing teams here have been based in the the fire station in Cowes but they have just outgrown this space. “We needed a new location here and I wanted to put something on the High Street to make Police visible and connected to the local public and to have the front the desk so people can pop in when they need to.”

When will Cowes Police Station be open?

The pre-planned opening times are as follows:

• Friday 19th January 12:30-15:30
• Friday 26th January 12:30-15:30
• Friday 2nd February 12:30-15:30
• Wednesday 7th February 15:00-18:00
• Friday 16th February 12:30-15:30
• Friday 23rd February 12:30-15:30
• Friday 1st March 12:30-15:30
• Wednesday 6th March 15:00-18:00