Following the closure and demolition of Whitehill police station, in Camp Road, neighbourhood police officers have been operating out of the town’s Eco-station, also in Camp Road.
But this has meant that residents who wish to report crimes face to face, or speak directly with police staff, have had to travel to Alton police station.
But from Tuesday, May 2, the front-counter services at Alton will be removed as the station closes its doors for the final time, meaning the closest police receptions for East Hampshire residents are in Aldershot, Basingstoke or Winchester.
This is part of a cost-saving property-management scheme which has seen Hampshire Constabulary sell off swathes of its estate.
Hampshire Constabulary’s district commander Clare Jenkins said: “Although the police station is closing, we want to reassure our communities that we will still maintain our patrolling strategy and high-visible presence in Alton and the surrounding areas.”
The force maintains that most people now prefer to engage with police either by phone or online, with the need for front-counter services diminishing more and more by the day.
This trend of disappearing personal contact is seen in all areas of the high street, with banks, shops and public services choosing machines, the internet, and phones as the cheapest, most popular means of communicating with their users.
Hampshire police and crime commissioner Michael Lane added: “Building effective partnerships is one of my priorities for the role of commissioner, and our service must respond to changing demands.”
The response and neighbourhood teams based at Alton police station will move to Hatch House in Mill Lane, Alton. This will be a shared building with Hampshire County Council, continuing the drive to “build on partnerships that use public money cost effectively”.
Mr Lane said: “This move for neighbourhood and response teams keeps the police in the centre of Alton, where they will continue to keep residents safer.”
It was this ethos that saw Whitehill and Bordon’s local police officers start and end their shifts in the town’s Eco-station after Whitehill police station was closed. The police station was demolished last year to make way for 10 homes.
In a statement, Hampshire Constabulary said: “Today, the vast majority of residents contacting the police do so via telephone, via online and other methods.
“As a result, use of front counter services in Alton has declined considerably, as other contact methods are preferred by members of the community.”
The advice continues to be in an emergency contact 999 or call 101 in other situations. People can also email their local team via [email protected] or visit hampshire.police.uk/contact-us.
People wishing to use counter services can visit:
* The Northern Police Investigation Centre, Basingstoke: Jays Close, RG22 4BS. Open: Monday to Saturday 8am-8pm, Sunday 9am-5pm, bank holidays 10am-6pm.
* Aldershot Police Station: Wellington Avenue, GU11 1NZ. Open: Monday to Saturday 8am-8pm, Sunday 9am-5pm (closed 2pm-2.45pm), closed on bank holidays.
* Winchester City Neighbourhood Police Office Operational Headquarters Tower Street, SO23 8ZD. Open: Monday to Saturday 8am-8pm, Sunday 9am-5pm (closed 2pm-2.45pm), closed on bank holidays.