Portsmouth City Council will fight to reopen police desk in city centre

CITY politicians will fight to open a police counter in the south of Portsmouth amid concerns that crimes will go unreported.
By Fiona Callingham
Published 22nd Jul 2020, 07:00 BST
Updated 22nd Jul 2020, 09:33 BST
Portsmouth Central police station, which closed its front desk last year. Picture: GooglePortsmouth Central police station, which closed its front desk last year. Picture: Google
Portsmouth Central police station, which closed its front desk last year. Picture: Google

During a virtual full council meeting yesterday councillors agreed to ask the Hampshire police and crime commissioner Michael Lane to either reopen the desk at Portsmouth Central station in Winston Churchill avenue or open one nearby.

It comes after the desk and cells in the station were closed last year when a new police investigation centre off Airport Service Road in Copnor opened.

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Councillor Hugh Mason, who brought the motion to the meeting, had concerns about accessibility. He said: 'There are many reasons why people need to go to a police station. They may have to present documents, they may wish to hand in lost property, they may wish to make a report without an abusive partner find out.

‘It’s important that the police station should be as accessible to as many people as possible. It’s difficult to think anywhere more inaccessible than the centre in Airport Service Road.’

Cllr Matthew Winnington added: 'I cycled along Airport Service Road and I didn't notice the station immediately, it doesn't stand out at all.

'We need to get that message out that people in this city expect to see someone face to face. Otherwise there’s a risk they won’t report crime if they’re not going to get the support they need – a lot of low level crime won’t get reported.’

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Former police officer Cllr Lee Hunt agreed. 'The north at least has a police counter,’ he said. ‘People in the southern part in the city do not have anything at all.’

It had been planned the central station would close entirely. However, with the announcement that Hampshire Constabulary is due to recruit 156 extra officers this is now under review.

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