OFFICERS employed by Alton Town Council to patrol the town's parks and open spaces will be empowered to issue fixed-penalty notices to curb anti-social behaviour.

Evening security patrols were introduced in 2004 to make open spaces feel safer and reduce vandalism.

The patrols have been by private contractors, but this year the council joined Hampshire County Council's accredited community safety officers to provide the service.

Hampshire was the first to employ its own police accredited safety officers, who have the power to request the name and address of anyone acting in anti-social behaviour, the authority to ask people drinking in designated places to surrender alcohol, and the authority to issue fixed-penalty notices for dog fouling and littering.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.