A NEW police base has officially thrown open its doors on the Eastern side of Southampton to boost response times and officer presence.
The new response and patrol base was opened on West End Road, Bitterne by Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones and Deputy Chief Constable, Ben Snuggs.
The new site, involving a £430,000 investment, is intended to make police more visible in the area, so that officers can respond more effectively.
It comes following the closure of the former Bitterne Police Station site in 2016.
Read more: Police centre to close for work but critical staff 'will not move out'
Mr Snuggs, Deputy Chief Constable told the Echo the new site is of "tremendous benefit" to the police.
"It’s landed really well with the teams. It means on this side of the city particularly, but in the city more broadly, we can respond more effectively and more quickly.
"Better response, better public service and being more visible are right at the heart of what it takes to be effective in policing."
The old police base on Bursledon Road could now be knocked down and rebuilt as a total of 600 new police officers are currently being recruited across the county.
PCC, Donna Jones added: "It’s perfectly placed for the police to be able to get to those response calls really quickly.
"It’s taken us about eight or nine months since we first found it to complete the contract, do all the refurbishment works and we’ve now got the lease on this building for the next two years which gives us time now to plan properly and work out exactly what the needs are for the original Bitterne Police Station site up the road.
"Bitterne is a great high street location, and this new base contributes to working space for the hundreds of new police officers we have recruited and provides reassurance and a service to the public.”
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