A POLICE chief has hit back at critics who insist that police resources in East Hampshire have fallen to an all-time low. East Hampshire District Police Commander, Chief Inspector Philip Kedge, has become so frustrated at the frequency of correspondence expressing concern about police resources, and in particular the tackling of low-level antisocial behaviour, that he has decided to set the record straight. And he has issued a challenge to communities to support the police, by adopting a Street Watch policy. In a statement, CI Kedge points out that since the establishment of the East Hampshire police command area of Alton, Whitehill and Petersfield in April 2006, "significantly more police resources have been made available to the area than for many years." Some of these resources include a unit that specialises in drugs and volume crime, officers who specialise in field intelligence and dealing with prolific offenders in the community, and a dedicated crime prevention officer. Recent restructuring of policing in East Hampshire has delivered dedicated Neighbourhood officers and a significant investment in Police Community Support Officers (PCOs). He said: "The strategic direction and resources have delivered unprecedented reductions in crime across the area – 32 per cent last year – with further reductions already this year." He added: "The reality is that the investment in policing has already arrived, and there is not going to be another increase for a few years. "Many officers already work excessive hours, out of a dedication to their communities." The police chief believes there is a defined gap in the way communities are made to feel safe and secure, and that is boosted by the willingness of communities to take responsibility for their environments. CI Kedge said: "The notion that someone can pay their taxes and then expect every minor problem to be left to the police, is flawed. We need to move away from such debates and concentrate on what we can all do to tackle community issues. "I would like to offer residents the chance to establish the community spirit that we are often told has been lost. "The alternative is to keep debating about the taxes we pay and wanting more police on the beat and in doing so, we leave the door open for those who want to undermine our communities." Any elected community leaders interested in piloting a scheme to contact CI Kedge on 0845 045 4545.
