THE style of policing in Alton is expected to change next week with officers allocated to particular areas and more officers on the beat. According to Alton Sergeant Ian Dugdale, the decision has been taken, along with the rest of Hampshire, to revert to a more high-profile style of policing, with officers being responsible for a particular "patch". "Each area will have a name and a face of the person to contact in times of need," he told those at Tuesday's meeting of East Hampshire District Council's NW area community committee. These officers, he said, would be responsible for dealing with issues in their area, of keeping a watchful eye on known offenders, and for taking on community initiatives. It would not, however, be possible to go back to the level of community policing offered in former years because officer numbers had fallen. In the last five years Alton's force had seen a reduction in manpower from 32 to 24. Nonetheless, Pc Simon Deere, beat officer for Selborne and Farringdon, pointed out that local residents were fortunate because Hampshire still adopted a beat officer policy where other counties did not. "We are more stretched and thinly covered but we are still adhering to community beat policy in Alton," he said. On response times, the officers said that it depended on the nature of the call, which would be subject to a grading system, but that 999 calls were grade one priority registered and dealt with as soon as possible. "They are the blue light jobs," said Sgt Dugdale. News of the return to "old fashioned" community beat policy was warmly welcomed both by councillors and by members of the public. Four Marks resident George May said he was "always pleased to see beat officers on the streets." He paid particular tribute to the work of Alton police over the Christmas period when high-profile policing appeared to pay dividends by protecting local traders from seasonal shoplifting. Alton town councillor John Smith was keen to gauge police response to his council's decision to employ the service of security patrols throughout the summer months. "We appreciate that the police are stretched but wonder whether you regard security patrols as a threat or as providing welcome assistance," he said. Sgt Dugdale was clear on the matter. "The more pairs of eyes we have out there the better." He pointed out that Alton constabulary already employed a strong team of special constables who were "a great help", particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. One of the biggest problems the area was facing at the moment was vandalism and this the police were planning to target as part of a new service plan. It would go hand-in-hand, he said, with a general clampdown on antisocial behaviour.
