POLICE need to be "accessible and visible" says the new Chief Constable of Gloucestershire.

But that doesn't necessarily mean police officers working out of station, says Suzettte Davenport who was previously Deputy Chief Constable of Northamptonshire.

Suzette Davenport, who has took over as Chief Constable of Gloucestershire last week, made the Forest her first port of call as she gets to know the county.

Ms Davenport visited Coleford and went out and about on the streets meeting local people.

She said: "What we need to ask is: what services do we need to deliver and what resources do we have?

"Buildings are becoming less important. What we need is a service that is flexible and fleet of foot rather than some warm and cuddly notion of bricks and mortar.

"People want a service that is visible and accessible and it is important the service is responsive and efficient."

Ms Davenport said she fully supported the plans to make Coleford police station a "hub" for the Forest and would be looking at how to bring in other public and voluntary sector services.

But she said there was little prospect of cells being returned to Coleford and where people needed to be in custody that would continue to be in Gloucester.

She said: "The standards for detention are now so high I would be very surprised if we were to invest (in having cells at Coleford).

"I would say that would be cost-prohibitive."

Superintendent Phil Haynes, the chief police officer in the Forest, said that people were only sent to the cells in Gloucester "in the most extreme cases".