A BOURNEMOUTH police station has reopened – but it is not for the use of the public. 

Boscombe’s old police station in Gloucester Road, which closed in 2016, has reopened as an operational base for the force’s officers. 

Response policemen and woman, for are those first on hand when a 999 call come in, will be situated in the building in a bid to improve response times. 

Previously they would have had to come from the Madeira Road site in Bournemouth town centre, which would have added vital minutes to a response time as cars made their way through traffic. 

Local policing area commander chief superintendent Heather Dixey said: “The additional officers we’ve recruited in the last few years means we now have the capacity needed to reopen Boscombe.  

“We’re always looking to improve our service, and people in the area will see an increased policing presence, tackling crime and keeping everyone safe.” 

The station will host five squads of patrol officers and has been refurbished to provide them with the necessary facilities.  

Victim Support, a national charity supporting victims of crime, has been based at the station for several years and will continue to work there. 

Dorset police and crime commissioner David Sidwick said: “Boscombe will once again be used as an operational base to improve response times to incidents to the east of the county and I know that the people of East Bournemouth, Southbourne, Christchurch and Highcliffe will be pleased to have five squads of officers based closer to where they live and work. 

“I have and will continue to keep my pledge to the people of Dorset to improve the service, put officers back into communities, and make Dorset Police more engaged and more connected to the people they serve.”