PEOPLE in Petersfield people will help decide how the town's police resources are deployed when a new system of neighbourhood policing is introduced in April. East Hampshire's top policeman has come up with a model which he hopes will put power and decision- making back into the heart of the community. Chief inspector Phil Kedge believes his Community Safety Partnership structure will be more effective in dealing with wider concerns residents might have. This could range from anti-social behaviour hotspots to complaints about cracked pavements. It centres around a new team to be set up at East Hampshire District Council consisting of a community safety officer, a police officer, an anti- social behaviour officer and an analyst. Their job will be to liaise with district councillors whose feedback from the community will help focus police resources on the most pressing areas of concern. It will mean that the team of 16 police constables and 17 police community safety officers in East Hampshire will take on a more community-based role. The key principles of the plan are: l District and parish councillors will act as community advocates and help identify the key issues for their communities; l The Community Safety Partnership will be responsive to these issues; l Through the Community Safety Partnership, the neighbourhood officers and police community support officers will manage the issues in partnership with other agencies; l There will now be an accountable monitoring and feedback process. Unveiling his new "safer neighbourhoods model" at a meeting of East Hampshire District Council's central area community committee on Tuesday, Chief Insp Kedge said: "We are looking forward to engaging with the local communities to deliver clear outcomes that will improve the quality of life for all. "By consulting with the community and councillors, the neighbourhood officers will identify the issues that the local communities most want to see resolved. "By working in partnership, they will manage these issues within a new accountable structure led not by the police, but by the East Hampshire Community Safety Partnership team." But his proposals did not meet with universal support, and a number of residents questioned the scheme. One woman said: "My main concern is about resources which seem enormously generous for things like nuisance and petty crime, but that is not going to tackle major crime. "With Hampshire Police short of funds and looking to reduce costs, I think those police officers are vulnerable." Councillors were, however, positive about the new system and looked forward to its implementation. Hilary Ayer said: "Petersfied Town Council has already been moving in this direction with the formation of the anti-social behaviour working party. "I think this is exciting and I think it will work."
