Reduced crime reported in Petersfield after station opened

The station in Petersfield, which opened in June, has been credited with a 12.8 per cent reduction in reported crime between its opening and September 29, compared to the same period in 2024.

The opening followed a pledge by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones to improve police visibility across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Located in the former Barclays Bank building in The Square, the station houses neighbourhood policing teams and serves as a public contact point.

Residents, business owners, and visitors can use the station to report crime, share information, meet their Local Bobby, or seek advice.

Petersfield is the eighth police station to be opened under the PCC’s scheme, with more planned for the future.

PCC 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."

In July, the commissioner announced that three new front desks are being created in Shanklin, Bishop’s Waltham, and Alton as part of her plan to bring policing closer to communities.

Work is also expected to get underway at the end of October to modernise Gosport Police Station, which closed in 2016.

The station is undergoing significant renovations to become a vital policing hub for the town’s community.

Ms Jones says the reopening of stations and front desks is part of her strategy to improve police visibility and public engagement across the region.