Ryde Police Station could reopen to the public to increase the visibility of the force on the Island.
Hampshire & 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.
Currently, only 1 — Newport Police Station — is open for public enquiries at its front desk.
The idea is part of a £2million scheme, which has also seen the PCC announce the reopening of central Portsmouth and Gosport, after refurbishment works. A similar plan is underway for the Island, but no decision has been made over which station it could be.
Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for community protection, Councillor 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.
Police on the Island work in offices in Ryde, Yarmouth, Cowes, Shanklin and Ventnor, as well as in Newport.
A police station open to the public? Whatever next, police officers on the streets?
I was discussing the need for a more visible police force with Donna the other day. I had suggested they wear clowns clothes and have a blue wirley light on their hats. She suggested high Viz jackets and reopening the Ryde branch. Think I’ll have to have a chat with Scott at the club about this waste of public money. I could’ve sold them the clown gear and lights and made a tidy profit!
About time, does seem stupid that police want things reported but only way is online (101 you give up waiting). It was so easy to pop in for chat and get advice first or just share intel with local police etc.
It’s the reporting system that ain’t good enough full stop. If they had several local (mobile and landline) phone numbers and names attached to them, it would make all the difference.
The main issue for crime is that the UK’s prison population is made up of vast amounts of non British now, and in increasing numbers.
So even if the Police do a decent job of catching crims, they are let down by the ‘hands tied’ courts, as only the very serious cases actually will be imprisoned, due to lack of space.
The crims know this, the Police know this, and the public unfortunately pay the price with less of a deterrent for current and future wrong doers causing more to ‘do as they please’.
Despite everyone ‘knowing this’ no one can say so due to being seen a racist and hounded out of their jobs and pensions.
As we see with IC6, the level of covering up is increasing not decreasing as the truth is too damaging to HMG
What are you talking about? Do you actually have any clue at all?
It was clearly a false economy to dispense with a few underpaid civilian clerks to man the front offices. The police have paid the price ever since in loss of public faith in them, not helped by hiding behind inaccessible call centres and failing to get out on foot on the streets, where they are most needed.