HAMPSHIRE police have reassured Whitehill and Bordon residents that the town is a “safe place”, despite an increase in crime.

Reports of petty criminality, such as vandalism and theft from vehicles, are commonplace but, when combined with recent ram-raids and an apparent decline in officer patrols, police have encountered heavy criticism.

However, Hampshire Constabulary this week tried to allay fears, telling the Bordon Herald that the force was still doing its utmost to keep down crime.

“Our focus is on protecting vulnerable people against crime and we will continue to prioritise our resources to deal with a range of different incidents as appropriate,” a spokesman explained.

“We have a neighbourhood team based in Camp Road, Bordon, and another in Alton; and our officers are deployed flexibly to tackle crime across the area. We are supported by response-and-patrol officers and a team of detectives.

“Bordon is a safe place to live and work, and more widely crime levels in East Hampshire remain low.

“Current recorded-crime figures for the Longmoor area indicate a slight increase compared to the previous year. However, this could be down to a number of reasons, including an increased confidence in reporting incidents to police and a change in population.

“The figures also indicate decreasing trends for particular crime types, including dwelling burglaries and burglaries at businesses.

“We will continue to monitor crime levels closely.

“A current district priority is vehicle crime, including thefts from motor vehicles. There was a rise in vehicle offences in August but this had reduced in September. Thefts from vehicles are often opportunist crimes, and vehicle owners can deter thieves by securing their vehicle properly and by not leaving any valuable items on show.”

Last month saw a series of thefts, including the burglary of the Bordon Working Men’s Club, with one witness describing the town’s crime as “terrifying”.

There is also a perception that criminals are more audacious.

In August, ram-raiders hit the Halifax in the centre of Farnham, leaving a stolen JCB telehandler forklift at the scene of the crime and making off with the cash machine.

June saw Tesco Bordon’s ATM ripped from the store and a digger abandoned in the car park. The Spar in Lindford, the Bucks Horn Oak service station on the A325 and Lloyds Bank in Liphook are just a few other sites targeted in 2018.

Comments about the lack of police in the town are commonplace on social media.

Resident Lee McDonald wrote: “With a spate of vehicle thefts in Bordon lately and cash-point thefts, can I ask what is being done in Bordon to assure the public that their vehicles and belongings are safe?”

He said that because opportunists know there is “little to no police presence”, the area is seen as “rich pickings”.

“I can’t remember the last time I witnessed a police patrol or police presence in this town,” he added.

Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Michael Lane said this week the focus had to be on “core crime”.

“Policing is under significant pressure, with operational demand rising and resources being stretched due to prolonged underfunding,” he said. “Policing must do first what only policing can do - investigating and detecting crime. Pursuing offenders and bringing them to justice must remain at the heart of policing.

“This applies to any crime - from the most serious violent crimes, that cause great harm to a few, to the more common crimes that affect many more of us, such as burglaries and thefts.”

However, he also recognised the importance of initiatives “beyond policing” that reduce demand on officers including “diversion and rehabilitation”, tackling “hate crime” and ensuring good mental health.