HEALTH and safety regulations mean that it would be too expensive to re-open the cells at Petersfield Police station, it was claimed this week.

Petersfield town mayor George Watkinson told councillors this that new rules meant prisoners would have to be given en suite facilities and a coffee machine.

The cost of replacing the cells with modern requirements would mean losing policemen on the beat, said Mr Watkinson.

Town councillors were discussing what action to take in the wake of a special meeting called to launch a campaign against rising violence and vandalism in the town.

It was organised by Angie Ryan, owner of the Eden Brasserie in the High Street, who fears that PetersfieldÕs growing reputation for crime, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings, could affect businesses if people stay away from the town.

Insp Steve Sargent appealed for more voluntary special constables to combat the growing problem.

Other speakers called for measures including private security guards, neighbourhood wardens and closed-circuit television.

And at Monday nightÕs full meeting of the town council, Mr Watkinson asked for backing for his proposal that councillors should write to the Police Authority and Chief Constables outlining their concerns and ask for more police presence, particularly at the weekends.

But new councillor Aaron Baird told the meeting violence and vandalism were the biggest problems in Petersfield at present: Òits on the front page of the papers all the time.Ó

ÒThe main problem is logistical, Ò he told councillors, Òif the police want to take the drunks to the cells at Alton it takes time and they are reluctant to do it. They need to open the cells in Petersfield and start making arrests. If fellow drunks see someone arrested, it scuppers their idea of enjoyment for the evening.Ó

He proposed that the police cells in Petersfield should be re-opened for weekend use as an urgent priority.

But Mr Watkinson told him that after discussions with Petersfield police, he had discovered that the cost would be prohibitive. Taking into account measures such as coffee machines and en suite facilities, it would come at the expense of policemen on the streets.

Although councillors did not support his proposal Mr Watkinson advised Mr Baird to write personally to the Police Authority calling for the opening of the cells.

Chris Jenner said there had been several meetings in a bid to stamp out vandalism and very little had come of them.

He told Mr Watkinson: ÒI do semi support your proposal but I feel in my heart of hearts that it is just making soothing noises for public consumption and I have every confidence that Insp Sargent is doing his best.Ó

Mr Jenner said he felt

councillors should be taking more constructive action such as having tables at the town

hall for recruiting special constables.

ÒWe should also have a policy of zero tolerance on anti-social behaviour all the time. We should get these people into court, give them a big fines or even lock them up for a couple of weeks. At the moment

they are just told they are Ônaughty boysÕ. They say crime doesnÕt pay, but it does at the moment, the criminals are just laughing at us.Ó

But Councillor Bob Ayer told the meeting East Hampshire had one of the lowest crime rates in the area. ÒI feel as councillors we

should take great care not to make utterances that result in an increase in the fear of crime.Ó

He said the town had less crime than Whitehill and Alton.

He said he would prefer

Mr WatkinsonÕs proposal to be withdrawn and replaced with Òthis council continues to

support the East Hampshire Community Safety Partnership and intends to play its

part in the achievement of its action plan.Ó

Councillors agreed to both Mr WatkinsonÕs proposal to write to the police authority and Mr AyerÕs suggestion that councillors should affirm their support for the partnershipÕs action plan.