Updated 11/10/11
The Safer Neighbourhoods Team for Alton Rural West is:
PC Richard McLaren (not pictured) and PCSO David Nops.
The areas that we cover are: Burkham, Lasham, Upper Wield, Lower Wield, Bentworth, Medstead, Soldridge, Theddo, Wivelrod, Four Marks, Ropley, Chawton, Monkwood West and Tisted.
We are based out of Alton police station.
Locally, we work with your community to find out what matters most where you live. We will work with you and our partner agencies to agree the main priorities for the area and how we will work together to tackle them.
The community priorities in this area are:
- Tackle parking offences at Four Marks Primary School
- Anti-social behaviour at Four Marks Skate Park
- Parking issues on Winchester Road, Four Marks
- Tackle speeding along Holt End Lane, Bentworth
- Prevent non-dwelling thefts in the Medstead area
These are the priorities that people in your local area have agreed with the Safer Neighbourhoods team. You can influence these priorities by contacting your team, attending a meeting or speaking to members of the team when you see them out and about.
Action we have taken in relation to your priorities
You said: Tackle parking offences at Four Marks Primary School
We did:
Parking problems continue, Highways have been requested to repaint the zig-zag lines at the bottom of Alton Lane, and have been asked to look at the problem of cars now parking in Lymington Bottom near to the junction with Alton Lane.
You said: Anti-social behaviour at Four Marks Skate Park
We did:
PC McLaren has spoken to Nick Walsh of English Landscapes (manager of Alton Street Cleaners). He engaged with police and stated that his company cleans some parts of Four Marks. Having learnt from Councillor Pat Seward that the parish council is considering engaging a part time litter collector, PC McLaren has given Mr Walsh's details to Cllr Seward and proposed that Mr Walsh's team clean in the park twice a week with a steel bin being provided to prevent arson. Cllr Seward has highlighted that the parish committee will need to sanction the expense.
PC McLaren will pay more attention to the park in his patrol plan.
You said: Parking issues on Winchester Road
We did:
Problems are occurring on Winchester Road, Four Marks where vehicles are using the service road in front of the Tesco Express store. Many vehicles are being double parked and blocking in other parked vehicles.
We are continuing to conduct daily visits to Oakgreen Parade but parking problems continue with drivers preferring to park illegally rather than walk a few yards.
You said: Tackle speeding along Holt End Lane, Bentworth
We did:
Many residents have raised the issue of habitual speeding by motorists along Holt End Lane, Bentworth. The road is being used as a short cut for vehicles between the A31 in Four Marks and going through to the A339 Basingstoke Road; primarily commuters during peak travel times in the morning and evening.
Regular static high visibility patrolling of Holt End Lane appears to be resolving the problem. It is well received by local residents and motorists are aware that I am often static near to the Star Inn Public House.
You said: Prevent non-dwelling thefts in the Medstead area
We did:
One of the main priorities of rural beat officers is the problem of rural crime such as poaching, theft of plant, theft of machinery, out building break-ins and theft of diesel. Country Watch is working well and the local community are supplying the police with valuable information.
Following on from the police operations in the area there has been a noticeable drop in the number of crimes in the area. Patrols will continue and more operations are to follow.
Good Work
Good work continues with Four Marks Street Watch with several new members joining the scheme as volunteers. The Safer Neighbourhood Team works closely with Street Watch. The scheme has attracted media attention nationally and is being looked at closely by other police forces.
Rural crime continues to be a major concern for the Alton West SNT and patrols are being stepped up in the rural districts specifically to work with Country Watch and support the rural community. In recent weeks there has been several rural operations with Beat Officers working alongside, traffic, Dog handlers, shift officers and PCSO’s in a combined effort to prevent crime and catch offenders operating in rural areas. These initiatives have been very successful with several arrests, vehicles seized and the community being reassured by a high level of police activity and visibility.
How you can take action
Street Watch
Four Marks is currently pioneering Street Watch within our policing area. Volunteers are working with the police to act as additional eyes and ears throughout the community passing areas of concern to the police.
We strongly believe that the way to engage the public is by getting out of police cars and patrolling on foot, therefore being able to give people the opportunity to speak with us.
We believe in being in the right place at the right time, therefore you will see us at relevant times, outside the school or chatting to young people outside Oak Green Parade in the evening.
Volunteers are still welcome and any interested party can contact Chief Inspector Phillip Kedge at Alton Police Station. Click here for more information about Street Watch.
Come and tell us what is important to you in your neighbourhood, and play your part in setting local priorities.
Beat Surgeries
Beat surgeries are held across Alton Rural West and members of the public can have an opportunity to meet the Safer Neighbourhoods team and voice their concerns and priorities.
The following beat surgeries take place on Fridays at Rumours Cafe, Lymington Bottom Road from 12pm until 1pm:
Your Voice Counts - community priorities
Your Safer Neighbourhoods team wants to hear from you. Have your say on what the policing priorities should be for your area, by clicking here to download a copy of the form and send it back to your local team.
Volunteering
You could also volunteer to help the teams working in your local area and make a real difference to your neighbourhood. Click here for more information about police support volunteers.
Crime mapping and local performance information
Hampshire Constabulary has joined with partner agencies in the two counties to provide you with local information about crime and disorder, using a system called CADDIE. On the bottom left hand side of this page, you can enter your postcode into CADDIE to view information about your local area.
You can also view details of how we are performing against certain key criteria in your local area. Click here to see your local performance information.
Click here to visit the East Hampshire District Council website .
Please note that Hampshire Constabulary is not responsible for external websites.
How to contact us
If you would like to speak to any of the officers responsible for policing your local area, please call 101 or email PC Richard McLaren and PCSO David Nops.
