FOREST people have told police chiefs that being able to contact the local bobby is more important than having police stations open, according to a survey.

The survey by Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl asked Foresters what they thought about policing in the area.

The results show that being able to access local police, a quality service for victims and visible patrols were most important while people "understood" that the tight financial climate made it impossible to have a police station in their area.

Mr Surl has pointed to improvements in police IT and better mobile communications as a way to make police more accessible.

But across the Wye in Gwent, which replaced police stations with "information points" and officers visiting areas in "mobile police stations" – vans – support has been less enthusiastic.

Gwent's Police and Crime Commissioner, Ian Johnston, has already announced that Chepstow and Monmouth police stations will reopen to the public and last week a senior police officer was asked about the possibility of Caldicot re-opening.

The consultation in the Forest was part of a wider review of police buildings, office structures and other resources.

Mr Surl said: "Making the police more accessible is one of my priorities. In practice, that means making it easier for people to know who their local officers are as well as where and how they can make contact.

"There's no doubt that cutbacks and closures have made this more difficult which was one of the reasons why I have kept my promise to keep Coleford police station open. However, the Chief Constable (Suzette Davenport) and I firmly believe there are other ways of making the police more accessible like improvements in police IT and better mobile communications that will keep officers out on patrol for longer.

"Interestingly, the idea of a central 'hub' was not seen as a priority. Most people are happy with the concept of police information points and generally supportive of making use of existing buildings, either with other agencies or in community settings in places like schools, council buildings, libraries or shopping areas – places with high footfall."

"Accessibility is clearly the theme running through many of the findings which is why I have made it clear to the constabulary that the non-emergency 101 telephone service has to be improved."

At a meeting of Caldicot Town Council Inspector Geoff Smith was asked about the possibility of the town's police station being reopened to the public.

Insp Smith said that when police surgeries were held at the station the number of people attending was low.

He said: "I would loath to have a PCSO (police community support officer) in the station just so that we could say it was open rather than them being out and about."

Insp Smith said he was unaware of any plans to reopen Caldicot police station.