Ribbon cut to open police's new home (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Ribbon cut to open police's new home

The new police station at GablecrossSWINDON'S new police station is officially open for business.

The new divisional headquarters at Gablecross in Shrivenham Road, South Marston played host yesterday to a gathering of many of Wiltshire's great and good.

The ribbon was cut by Wiltshire's Lord Lieutenant John Bush, himself a former member of the county's police authority.

Although the service was celebrating its opening, Chief Constable Martin Richards said the building, which brings all police departments under one roof, was not the whole story.

He said: "I come from a church background, I am a vicar's son and a churchgoer.

"And, like the church, the police is not about bricks and mortar. It's about a sense of spirit, faith and community.

"This is not an out-of-town police station but a facility for the people of Swindon.

"My job is reducing crime, detecting crime, providing a public service and efficiently responding to emergencies."

The building, funded by a private finance initiative, cost £19.5m.

Bertie Woolnough, chairman of the Wiltshire Police Authority, said: "This is a very important day for Swindon and the staff we employ for policing the town."

As well as the Gablecross headquarters there are police points at Lady Lane in North Swindon, Link Avenue in West Swindon and in October there will be a central police point in Henry Street.

There will also be a fourth point on the proposed Front Garden development to the south of the town.

Mr Woolnough said: "This will make our policing much more accessible to people, rather than having all our eggs in one basket."

Lord Lieutenant Sir John Bush said: "Clearly there has been a huge amount of thought on where this building should be and what it should do."

Swindon Mayor Ray Fisher, speaking on the second floor of the building, said: "All you would need is a pair of binoculars and you could keep a pretty good eye on Swindon from here.

"This will be good for the town and good for police morale.

"They have something they can be proud of, as well as Swindon."

Jenni Manners, manager of Swindon's Women's Refuge, thinks the new vulnerable person's unit is a great improvement.

The unit offers facilities for those involved in child protection, vulnerable persons and domestic violence.

She said: "This is a stunning improvement. The unit is away from the main building. The three teams have a lot in common and keeping them together will be a great help to victims of what are usually horrendous and traumatic crimes."

Coun Derique Montaut, (Lab, Moredon), a member of the police authority, said: "The new building is to be welcomed but the fact that the major site has moved away from the centre will lead to some concerns.

"However I'm convinced it will help the police operationally."

A formal planning application has now been lodged with Swindon Council for the demolition of the old police station on Fleming Way.

It is set to be redeveloped as part of the town centre regeneration. An enquiry office remains here until the new police point opens in Henry Street.

Dave Andrew