POLICING in Alton is on the up. As from August 1, a new two-pronged approach has separated crime and community work, heralding the return to a more visible form of policing and increased investment in resources. Alton can expect more "Bobbies on the beat" and more patrols in place to provide rapid emergency cover, supported within the next two years by an increasing number of police community support officers (PCSOs). It has been trumpeted as a "win win" situation for the whole of East Hampshire, brought about as part of a radical new approach to the service by Hampshire Constabulary In its role as the new East Hampshire district command unit headquarters, Alton police station has been transformed from a quiet backwater into a modern up-to-date hub of policing activity with a much increased workforce and a commitment by the district's top officer to "champion the community". The changes have come about as a result of a force-wide review, "Forward Together", commissioned in September 2004 to look at the existing structure and aimed at creating an "independent, sustainable and professional" stand-alone force. It has resulted in the restructuring and reinforcement of Hampshire Constabulary, designed to better meet the needs of the community it serves. On April 1, Hampshire's 10 former Basic Command Units (BCU) were merged to provide six Operational Command Units (OCUs). As a result Alton, Bordon, Petersfield and Liphook have joined the policing areas of Basingstoke and Aldershot to form a north and east OCU. Based in Aldershot, Chief Superintendent Paul Netherton, heads the OCU, assisted by Superintendent Clive Brown, and they are responsible for policing four districts - East Hampshire, Basingstoke, Hart and Rushmoor. Each district is led by a chief inspector who is responsible for strategic and partnership working. In East Hampshire, Alton-based Chief Inspector Phil Kedge has taken up the reins and, having been part of the "Forward Together" team, has felt justified in reporting that after just three months the new system is already producing results. According to Chief Insp Kedge, the restructuring has created two distinct policing roles. Since August 1, targeted patrol teams have responded to 999 calls while neighbourhood officers take on the role of high visibility community policing. In East Hampshire the number of officers operating quick response and patrol vehicles has increased from 25 to 40 with eight teams of eight officers - five based at Whitehill, to cover the Whitehill Bordon, Liphook and Petersfield area and three teams at Alton. This particular restructuring takes into account the large geographical area the patrols have to cover and should address the problem of vehicles based at Whitehill having to dash to Alton during times of emergency. In addition, since August 1 the district has been split into 11 neighbourhood areas, covered by 16 officers whose job it is to focus on community issues. To be largely intelligence led, the aim is to work with local partners such as district and parish councils, the education authority, youth officers and social services, to identify problems and come up with clear definable solutions and time scales for achievement. Phil Kedge is the first to admit that it sounds almost too good to be true but, due to the creation of a larger response team, the aim is for neighbourhood officers to remain working in the community and, other than in a crisis, not be called upon for other duties. As an added bonus, in the new year East Hampshire will benefit from the introduction of 11 police community support officers, one assigned to each neighbourhood area, with more coming on board during the second year of investment . Their job will be to work alongside local beat officers to "bridge the gap" in community service in terms of visibility and reassurance. "They will transform the way we engage with the public, providing policing presence and reassurance, particularly in rural communities," said Chief Insp Kedge. The extra staffing over two years has been financed by a £3.2 million government handout to Hampshire Constabulary - a cost which in future years is likely to be met by local council taxpayers, but by then it is hoped the benefits will be obvious and people will be prepared to pay extra for the service, he said. The rest of the East Hampshire team, the majority based in Alton, includes intelligence officers, crime managers, a quick reactive team responding to emergency issues around crime and drugs, and in particular vehicle crime, a priority crime team which is currently looking at burglary, a school's liaison officer, youth and child protection officers, a public section officer and an officer dedicated to prolific offenders. The OCU also has a police officer based at East Hampshire District Council offices at Petersfield to enhance partnership working. With the whole structure based on information, intelligence and engaging with the public, this style of policing is designed to meet the government's "citizen-led" policy and should, believes Chief Insp Kedge, help to increase public confidence and in getting issues resolved. His role in this is clear: "East Hampshire is still one of the safest areas of the country in which to live - my job is to improve on that position."
