ONE of the earliest crimes recorded at Brentford police station was the 1831 case of two young boys who were stopped in possession of an ass that they had stolen from Oxford.

The boys were apprehended on the Brentford boundary, having carefully avoided the Bow Street horse patrol stationed in Hounslow. The incident, reported in the Times, is among many in the successful career of the station.

Residents were therefore bitterly disappointed when the station was closed to the public in May 2000. Although police officers were still operating from the station, the front counter and public office were closed down in a bid to save funds and the public had to travel to stations in Hounslow, Feltham, Chiswick and beyond if they wanted assistance.

Now the police station has re-opened its doors to the local community. The station was visited by Lord Toby Harris, chair of the Police Authority, for its official re-opening ceremony on Monday. An officer will now be manning the front desk from 9am to 5pm on a daily basis, although these hours could change according to demand.

A large number of uniform and plain clothes officers will be working from the station and the local community team will continue to work from there.

The Times patrolled the streets outside the station to see what residents thought about the arresting news.

Buchan Littlejohn was aggrieved that residents had had to travel so far to access a service which was being paid for by the public. He said: "It's been terrible. It has been a lot of hard work trying to get in touch with the police, having to go down to Chiswick or Hammersmith as their precincts were open.

"There was a cut back in expenditure because the station was costing a lot of money to run but the government has rightly decided it's better to open it."

Looking for a police man in an emergency has often been fruitless, even in front of a police station, according to Catherine Kehoe: "I have seen some people have an accident right outside and they have had to press the button on the door to call the police in Chiswick." Mrs Kehoe, who has lived in Brentford for 44 years, added: "I was ever so disappointed when it closed and I'll be glad when it opens. It gives you a bit of security."

Getting to other police stations has not always been easy, especially for the elderly or disabled.

Pensioner Wyn Cunningham said: "I think it's good that the station is re-opening. When we've needed the police we had to go to Chiswick, which is just too far away."

Danny O'Brien lives in Greenford, an area which was covered by Brentford police station in 1840. Mr O'Brien works on one of Brentford's new development sites and feels the station will be a bonus for new residents moving into the area.

So far Mr O'Brien has had no need to call for the help of Brentford police: "I don't have a lot to do with them, it's been as good as gold at the site. But it's good that the station is re-opening, it will give the area a bit more security."

Matt Harmer, of the Griffin Park Residents Association, has been campaigning for the re-opening of the station. He said: "We have had a good relationship with the police but it's always felt a little distant because we have had to contact them via Hounslow or Chiswick, so having them back on our door step can only be a good thing."

On his way to the ceremony, ABeeC Councillor, Luke Kirton, was glad that local needs were being taken into consideration. He said: "It's good for the public. The people have been asking for it to open since it closed and I'm pleased to see they have been listened to."

And Mr Kirton praised the growing links between locals and the police: "The re-opening combines with the fact that we are seeing more community activity from police in the area, which can only continue to improve communications between police and the local community."

Finally one resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "The amount of crime would increase unless we had a deterrent. People will see the station is open and they will think twice before they break the law."

With crime in the area down by four per cent last year, the presence of an active police station should help officers and residents to build a better Brentford.