OFFICERS hope that a new mini-police station just yards from Marlborough High Street will encourage more people to pop in to report crime.

The touchdown point at The Corner House in George Street car park opened on Monday and its front desk will be open three days a week for members of the public to report accidents, show documents and give information about crime.

Inspector Pete Foster from the Wiltshire east community policing team said: “It is the perfect size for us and I hope that being in a more central point will mean that it will get more use by the public.”

The old much larger police station in George Street, complete with secure cells built to hold suspect terrorists, will now be sold. Police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire Angus Macpherson said that the building would first be offered to partner organisations such as Wiltshire Council and health groups but he was keen for it to be sold as soon as possible.

He said: “Empty buildings cost us money so we do not want them sitting around. We have already started discussions with other agencies. It is not a very large site and only has a smallish car park which is on an incline.”

Marlborough Mayor Mervyn Hall said that the neighbourhood plan group which he chairs had identified affordable housing and a doctor’s surgery as the two highest priorities.

He hoped that the building could be converted but said it was not an easy building to adapt.

The major crime investigation unit that was based at the old police station has moved to Gablecross in Swindon.

Insp Foster said the new building would be used by officers working in Marlborough but they would still start their day on parade at Borough Police Station in Devizes.

People under arrest will go to Swindon or Melksham but the touchdown point includes an interview room, rest area, toilets and a kitchen for use by officers.

The building was previously a children’s Sure Start centre and is on a ten year lease.