The opening of Petersfield police station this summer has been hailed a success by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones.

Between its doors opening in June and September 29, the number of crimes reported in the town dropped by 12.8 percent compared with the same four months last year.

The station, based in the old Barclays Bank building in The Square, followed a pledge by the PCC to improve police visibility across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Neighbourhood policing teams are now located in the heart of the community.

Residents, business owners and visitors have been able to go into the station to report crime, share information, see their Local Bobby or seek advice.

Ms 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.”

Petersfield was the eighth police station opened by the PCC, with more on the way.

In July, the PCC announced three front desks are being created in Alton, Shanklin, and Bishop’s Waltham as part of the second phase of the plan to bring police closer to communities and deliver local policing.

Work is also expected to get underway at the end of October on the modernisation of Gosport Police Station. The station closed in 2016 and is undergoing significant renovations to become a policing hub for the town’s community.

Police visibility and engagement remain among the commissioner’s top priorities, with the reopening of stations and front desks across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight emphasising that commitment.