PCC Donna Jones has confirmed that the first facility will open by the end of 2023 in West Cowes.

Every district in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will have a police station open to the public under plans announced today by PCC Donna Jones.

Ten stations - a mixture of new bases, reopenings and relocation - are to open, starting at the end of 2023 with the new facility in West Cowes. Spring 2024 will see Portsmouth Central and Park Gate reopen, with a new base in Petersfield opening by the summer.

In autumn 2024 stations in Totton, Ryde and Yateley will reopen, before new bases in Eastleigh and Cosham open in early 2025. A date for the relocation back to Gosport is still to be confirmed.

PCC Jones has earmarked £2million in the 2023-24 budget to fund the scheme which will close to double the 13 stations currently open to the public.

She said: "As Commissioner, I know the closure of police stations has hugely affected communities. People have told me they don’t feel connected to police, they don’t see police in their neighbourhood. The Chief and I want to change that.

“This plan supports the Chief’s new operating model of delivering excellent neighbourhood policing. Increasing the number of police stations open to the public from 13 to 23 will drive up police visibility and put officers back in the heart of communities.”

Chief constable Scott Chilton added: "The Commissioner and I are united in our ambition to deliver a more effective, more visible service for the public. Visible and accessible local policing matters."