ALTON police station services are on the move.

From late autumn, the neighbourhood patrol and response teams will be moving to Hatch House on the Mill Lane industrial estate.

The station and front counter services will remain open at the police station on Drayman’s Way until late spring next year, when the building will be sold.

Michael Lane, the newly-elected police and crime commissioner, said: “Building effective partnerships has always been one of my priorities for the role of commissioner and our service must respond to changing demands.

“The move later this year for neighbourhood and response teams keeps the police in the centre of Alton, where they will continue to keep residents safer.”

According to Hampshire Constabulary, the vast majority of residents currently contact the police via telephone, online or other methods.

As a result, use of front counter services in Alton has declined considerably. But there is reassurance that if any resident is unable to travel to use a front counter service, alternative arrangements can be made.

In moving to Hatch House, the rsponse and neighbourhood teams will share the facility with the Alton Family Centre, run by Hampshire County Council, “continuing the drive to build on partnerships that use public money cost effectively”.