THE man in charge of policing East Hampshire has hit back at people calling for more officers in his area. And the reason given by Inspector Phil Kedge was that investment had already been ploughed into the policing, and he warned people not to expect another increase for several years. "It is with frustrating frequency that I receive correspondence from various sources regarding police resources in East Hampshire," he said, "and particularly the issue of tackling low-level anti- social behaviour. "It is perhaps time to publicly outline my views and the realities around the police resources available." He added: "I have a concern that some communities may not understand the actual resources we have and that an unfortunate common default position exists where people believe that the solution to all problems, particularly low-level anti-social behaviour, should be answered through calls for more police officers, and to then sit back waiting for this to happen. "The reality is that the investment in policing has already arrived, and there is not going to be another increase over the next few years." He said that since the East Hampshire police command area of Alton, Whitehill and Petersfield was set up last April "significantly more police resources have been made available to the area than for many years". Chief insp Kedge said that some of these resources included a unit that specialised in drugs and volume crime, officers which specialised in field intelligence and dealing with the most prolific offenders in our communities, and a dedicated crime prevention officer. "With respect to a uniformed presence, the restructuring of policing in East Hampshire has delivered dedicated neighbourhood officers and a significant investment in police community support officers," 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 being experienced this year." It was not uncommon, claimed Chief insp Kedge, to receive calls for individual local neighbourhood officers to police communities Monday to Friday, and then again at the weekends. "Complaints of perceived low resources are sometimes received when a minor incident has happened and the local officer has been on a rest day." Many officers already worked excessive hours out of a dedication to their communities and this was often at the expense to them and their families, Chief Insp Kedge said. "I feel that communities need to better understand that officers are not super human, they have commitments to their own families and life outside of work, and that many people's expectations of them are unrealistic."      He was no stranger, he said, to the debate around police resources in East Hampshire over the years. "As a sergeant based in East Hampshire between 1996 and 1998, the debates were little different from what exist now. There is a reality that, whatever the resources, public demand will never be fully satisfied as communities will always want more or believe that they need more." There was an obvious and clearly defined gap in the way in which communities were made to feel safe and secure, he claimed: "And that is the willingness of communities to help by taking responsibility for their own environments, to help improve their own quality of life, and to ensure everyone around them is safe. "The notion that someone can pay their taxes and then expect every minor problem to be left to the police is flawed and undermines any sense of community spirit and cohesion." He said his 'Street Watch' proposals were being embraced by some but misunderstood by others. "This is not about residents confronting criminals, drug dealers, burglars or violent people," he said. "The chances of anyone coming across such crimes in progress is negligible, and no more so than someone out walking their dog. "It is just about developing a scheme where residents may occasionally walk around their communities with purpose, being visible, providing a sense of community reassurance and reporting on issues that give rise to concern. "I would like to offer residents the opportunity to establish the community spirit that we are too often told has been lost. In doing so, this will reduce low- level problems that are perceived to undermine communities. I don't believe that there is anything to lose by trying." The alternative, he claimed, was to keep debating taxes and police numbers, adding: "And while doing so, we leave the door open for those who want to undermine our communities. The choice to engage and to work with your local officers is now for individual local communities to make and I hope that this concept will be supported by local councils." He said he welcomed contact from Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators and elected community leaders if they were interested in supporting a Street Watch pilot scheme in their area. Chief Insp Kedge can be reached at Alton Police Station on 0845 0454545.