Britain’s smallest police station has opened in response to an epidemic of serious knife crime and shoplifting.
Thought to be the smallest manned station in the UK, the 8ft by 6ft space has been created in Crawley town centre in response to a spate of recent stabbings.
Sussex police secured money for the new station from a government fund set up to deal with knife crime and violence in town centres.
Owing to its narrow nature it has room only for a couple of seats and has no cells in which to hold anyone placed under arrest.
Located at a busy pedestrian intersection close to several pubs, the “engagement hub” aims to provide a visible presence in the heart of the town.
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It will be manned by either uniformed police officers or PCSOs from 8am to 3am every day, with volunteers and town centre marshals also available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Powered by solar energy and made using 1,312 recycled plastic bottles, the station follows the success of the police “beach hut” in Brighton, opened in 2019.
Councillor Yasmin Khan, the cabinet member for public protection at Crawley borough council, said: “It provides residents and visitors the opportunity to discuss their concerns with the police, as well as being a valuable tool in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre — along with our newly installed CCTV cameras. The hub supports our desire to ensure that the area is safe for everyone.”
Katy Bourne, the Sussex police and crime commissioner, added: “Residents regularly tell me how much they value access to police support within their communities. We know that visible policing deters crime and having the new Crawley hub in place provides the opportunity to build better relationships and strengthen the public’s confidence in their local policing team.
“The hub will also support the ongoing work Sussex police do to tackle criminals, protect the vulnerable and keep the streets of Sussex safe.”
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Inspector Steve Turner, of Crawley neighbourhood policing, said: “Although it is only small, it will allow us to have a very visible presence in the middle of the town centre, which we have identified as a hotspot for violent crime and serious antisocial behaviour in the evenings.
“We have also problems with shoplifting and other types of crime during the daytime and we hope that having officers here, ready to respond, will not only be able to tackle the problems we are facing but will act as a deterrent.”
He said it wouldn’t only be police officers who would be using the station but a host of other agencies.
“We’re going to have PCSOs, business wardens and volunteer night marshals, so there will be all sorts of people on hand.”
The arrival of the garden shed-sized pod attracted some wry observations from the public.
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One shopper said: “I’ve heard there have been cutbacks but this is ridiculous. It’s tiny!”
Another said: “I think it’s a really good thing, This part of the town has become a nightmare at the weekend with drunkenness, shouting and violence every single weekend.
“There has also been a lot of criminal damage to businesses as a result, and I hope the fact there are police officers right here will put a stop to it.”
