Members of the public, businesses and local dignitaries gathered outside Ryde Police Station which was officially reopened by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones and Chief Constable Scott Chilton earlier today (Friday).
PCC Jones and Scott Chilton, Chief Constable of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, unveiled the brand new facility in the heart of the Island’s most populated town to gathered press and delegates.
This is the 2nd station that PCC Jones and CC Chilton have opened this year following the opening of Cowes Police Station back in January.
Speaking to those present at the opening, PCC Donna Jones thanked local contractors who carried out the work to transform the premises as well as those who made things happen behind the scenes. Jones stressed that the authority were working to reverse the previous austerity measures and that it was key to put Police Officers back in the ‘heart of our towns’.
Among those present at the event were Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson, Isle of Wight Council Chairman Phil Jordan, High Sheriff Graham Biss and Mayor of Ryde Richard May. Ryde-based Isle of Wight Councillors Vanessa Churchman and Karen Lucioni – who had been particularly involved in the process alongside the PCC – were also present.
One very special visitor was former police officer, Bill Kerr, who was a Constable at Ryde from 1959 to 1974, Speaking on the opening, Bill said:
“I’m so pleased to have been here today for the official reopening of the police station. It is quite an emotional moment for me when I think back to my policing days in Ryde. I’m delighted to have attended today’s event.”
PCC Donna Jones said:
“I am delighted that the people who live and work in Ryde can be better connected to their police force once more. It was fantastic to mark this important occasion today alongside the people of Ryde, the Chief Constable, the Island’s High Sheriff, and the Mayor of Ryde.
“The police station shut its doors to the public in 2014. Since then, police officers and staff continued to work in the building but the public were not able to go in and report a crime, get updates, or seek help and reassurance. Now, a decade later, the police station has opened its doors again. This is a landmark day ensuring safer communities in Ryde and across the whole of the Island.”
Island man Christopher Hayton – who has made and donated over 500 wooden troughs to various Island establishments all in aid of men’s mental health charities – presented a personalised trough to MP Joe Robertson. It is hoped that this trough will be filled with flowers and placed outside the station.
Ryde Police Station is open on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s between 09:00 – 15:00 and Saturday’s 09:00 – 14:30.
PCC Donna Jones concluded:
“I am delivering on my promise to the people of the Isle of Wight to increase police accessibility, engagement, and visibility. Police officers must be seen at the heart of their communities.
“By the end of 2024, I will have opened seven police stations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. There are more to come in 2025.”
I must remember not to need assistance unless it’s during the opening hours.
Should be open 24/7 365 days a year
Our Council Tax increases should pay for this.
The police stations should never have been closed in the first place
Utter farce! Re opening stations the lying tories closed,and looking smug in the process,i bet this one is open,three hours a day?
donna jones is an utter waste of time and certainly not worth her over inflated wages!
I totally agree. The £88,600 she gets every year could put 2 or 3 police officers on the streets instead. Her salary is a complete waste of taxpayers money. She doesn’t even have a Bat Phone!
The £88,600 salary she gets could be used to put 2 or 3 new police officers on the streets instead.
Let’s hope that they have some police officers placed in there and a few more to be seen on the streets where the public can go up to them and engage with the officers so that more crime can be reported and acted on. I notice that someone is still eating all the pies.