Police station refurbishment gets under way

Gosport Police Station in South Street was closed in 2016

Work has begun to refurbish a police station in Hampshire that was closed as part of cuts almost 10 years ago.

Part of Gosport station is being demolished while its main building will be overhauled.

Police and crime commissioner Donna Jones said the building was "hugely dilapidated and in need of extensive renovation".

The project is expected to run throughout 2026.

Gosport's South Street station was one of a number that were closed when Hampshire Constabulary had to save £55m amid government spending cuts. The force had to save a further £25m by 2016.

Proposals to sell the building were halted in 2022.

Following plans to reopen a number of stations announced by Ms Jones earlier this year, the old section houses at Gosport are being demolished to create more parking space for police vehicles.

The main building is due to be refurbished to include a front counter and public reception area.

Once complete, the station will house teams including neighbourhood policing, CID and district policing teams.

Ms Jones said: "These renovations not only ensure members of the public have access to a front counter, they will provide our officers and staff with a better work environment to enable them to do their jobs properly and continue delivering great results for the people of Gosport."

Ms Jones is set to stand as the Conservatives' candidate for the Hampshire and Solent mayor against Lorna Fielker, who currently represents the Swaythling ward on Southampton City Council for the Labour Party.

Martin Tod, the leader of Winchester City Council, will be standing for the Liberal Democrats.

The Green Party's candidate is Anna Collar, who is an archaeologist and an associate professor at the University of Southampton

Reform UK said its candidate will be announced soon.