Hampshire Constabulary

Page last reviewed on September 20
Sergeant Dave Phillips is responsible for the Safer Neighbourhoods team covering Andover Rural Sector.  The officers and staff on the team are:

• PC Bill Williams: King Somborne, Little Somborne, Ashley, Bossington   
• PC Simon Beecroft: Broughton, Houghton, Longstock, Over Wallop, Nether Wallop    
• PC John Viney: Stockbridge, Leckford, Chilbolton
• PC Richard Jewell: Goodworth Clatford, Upper Clatford, Wherwell, Abbots Ann, Longparish             
• PC Roger Kitson: Shipton Bellinger, Thruxton, Amport, Grately, Kimpton, Fyfield, Penton Grafton, Penton Mewsey, Monxton          
• PC Martin Benton: Hurstborne Tarrant, Vernham Dean, Faccombe, Linkenholt, Tangley
• PCSO Lisa Flowers
• PCSO Natalie Lock

Please click on the relevant links above to find out more about all your local officers.

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. 

Priorities for Andover rural include: 

• Targeting and reducing poaching on all land across the rural Test Valley, including Hare Coursing and the illegal taking of fish from the River Test.
• Theft of scrap metal and red diesel/heating oil.

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

The Safer Neighbourhoods teams endeavour to make Andover rural a better place to work, live and visit.  

Poaching on all land across the rural Test Valley

Poaching has frequently been a problem in the rural community and recently we have seen a rise in the number of reported incidents. There is no specific pattern to these reports and offenders often travel in from neighboring counties. The rural police team together with Country Watch, who are a specialist team set up to tackle many of the issues surrounding wildlife crime, are now working together to look at these problems. Over recent months we have run a number of police operations in an effort to tackle the issues. These have been supported by other specialist units within Hampshire Constabulary.  Where evidence supports it, positive action is taken against anyone suspected of poaching. Numerous prosecutions have taken place and others are currently under investigation.  The support of local land owners, game keepers and other involved parties is very much appreciated and encouraged. Training and support is being given to the response team police officers based at Andover, who also respond to reports of poaching so that lawful, positive action can be taken when they attend such incidents in support of local neighbourhood officers. Other ways of tackling this issue are being considered and will no doubt be developed over the coming months.

 
To view the opening times of Stockbridge Police station click here.  

YOUR SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS OFFICERS:

My name is PC Simon Beecroft and I am responsible for the villages of Longstock, Broughton, Houghton, Palestine, Over Wallop and Nether Wallop. I have been a police officer for 18 years and have worked at Stockbridge for the past four. As beat manager, I am the named point of contact for policing in the area and provide a link between parish councils and other partner agencies. If you live in one of the above villages you will see me regularly patrolling either on foot, on a bicycle or in a marked patrol car.

The current priorities for this beat are anti-social behaviour in Over Wallop, theft from motor vehicles at our local beauty spots and poaching. These priorities are currently under review and I have been attending parish council meetings to find out if members of the local community would like them to be updated.  If you have any issues that you feel should be a police priority then please contact me so that they can be considered.  To target anti-social behaviour in Over Wallop we have worked with members of the community, the parish council and TVBC to set up a community sports programme. This has been very successful and has led to a reduction in reported incidents for the past two years. With regard to the thefts from motor vehicles, I regularly visit the car parks at our local beauty spots and hand out our ‘Car Safe’ warning notices that act as a reminder not to leave anything valuable in your unattended vehicles. These can also be displayed to inform prospective thieves that nothing valuable has been left in the vehicle. This has led to a reduction in reported thefts. However, there has been a recent rise in thefts from vehicles parked at Danebury Hill Fort so please remain vigilant and I will increase my patrols of that area over the coming months. We have also been running several poaching operations, which have involved extra police resources like the Roads Policing Unit, the Dogs Unit and our Air Support Unit. We have been working with local game keepers to deter and catch the poachers and several have been successfully prosecuted.

If you have any issues or concerns in your neighbourhood which are not covered by the priorities above then please contact me at Stockbridge Police Station or let your Parish Council know or come and see me at one of the following locations:

• Beat Surgery at Museum of Army Flying - tbc
• Beat Surgery at Mobile Library, Broughton Village Hall - tbc
• Beat Surgery at Mobile Library, Houghton Village Hall - tbc

Click here  to read the latest newsletter for this area.

I am PC Bill Williams and I  have been a police officer for 22 years. I am now the beat manager for the Somborne beat which includes the villages of Kings Somborne, Little Somborne, Up Somborne, Ashley and Brook.

The current priorities for this beat, as decided with parish councils, are reducing juvenile nuisance and inconsiderate parking and increasing police visits to open areas of the villages like allotments and the playing fields. Regarding juvenile nuisance, we have encouraged the young people in the village to launch a petition for a youth shelter, which should reduce the problems. This has been very succesful so far, with many signatures from youths and adults alike. Foot and mobile patrols continue in the villages.

If you feel that we can help with anything else in the village that is affecting your quality of life then please contact me at Stockbridge either by phone, email or at one of our publicised visits. Myself or PCSO Natalie Lock will also be at the following locations (incidents permitting) at the times and dates shown below:

• Lovell's Farm, Up Somborne - tbc
• Church Road, King Somborne - tbc 

Click here to read the latest newsletter for this area

I am PC Martin Benton and I now look after the villages under the parishes of Hurstbourne Tarrant, Vernham Dean and Tangley. These include Hatherden, Wildhern, Upton, Ibthorpe, Littledown, Faccombe, Linkenholt and Pill Heath. Prior to this I have worked in the Test Valley Rural area for the last 17 years predominantly in the Sombornes, Shipton Bellinger and the Weyhill area. I therefore feel I have a good understanding of village life and country matters. I am also a Wildlife Crime Officer and as such deal with wildlife crime as diverse as poaching, habitat destruction and the illegal importation of listed animals and plants. Below are the local policing priorities for these areas and the actions we have undertaken to address them: 

Hurstbourne Tarrant

You said: Anti-social behaviour was your main concern.

We did: As a result of working closely with out partner agencies, three youths from the village have now been placed on acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) for a period of six months. We have also increased police presence in the village. The Parish Council has noted this and thanked us.

Vernham Dean

You said: Speeding vehicles, targeted vandalism of the pavilion and dog fouling around the area are your key concerns.

We did: We have contacted the Roads Policing Unit and have asked them to visit the village and conduct an anti-speeding initiative. Test Valley Borough Council have also been contacted and we have asked them to consider erecting "Twenty is Plenty" signs around the pre-school. Work on these issues is ongoing.

Tangley, Hatherden and Wildhern:

You said: You were concerned about speeding and fly tipping.

We did:  We have contacted the Roads Policing Unit and have asked them to visit these villages as well to conduct anti-speeding initiatives. If fly tipping is seen taking place then we can deal with it, but it is all too likely that the offence will have already taken place by the time we are made aware of it. In these cases, Environmental Health at Test Valley Borough Council would need to be contacted. 

If you have any issues or concerns in your neighbourhood which are not covered by the priorities above then please contact me at Stockbridge Police Station or let your Parish Council know or come and see me at one of the following locations:

• Vernham Dean Parish Hall 14/11 7pm and 12/12 7pm

Click here to read the latest newsletter for this area.

I am PC Roger Kitson and I am part of the Andover Rural Safer Neighbourhoods team. Previously I worked at Southampton, and I've been a police officer for 15 years. My beat covers from Redenham in the north to Grateley in the south and from Shipton Bellinger in the west to Penton Mewsey in the east. Currently my priorities are to reduce anti social behaviour in Shiption Bellinger and Grateley. PCSO Dave Trowbridge is assisting me conducting high visibility patrols. I am keeping my villages updated on any events of note by regularly contacting the Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator for that village. If you want details of who your NHW coordinator is please mail me. I will be working very closely with the rural communities and the Army Air Corps at Middle Wallop, who continue to report to police should they witness any suspicious activity in the farming community, which is particularly helpful at night. 

Come and meet me (incidents permitting) at the following locations:

• Weyhill Fairground: 7.30pm on Thursdau, October 20, PC Kitson
• Kimpton Parish Council meeting, Village Hall: 7.30pm on Monday, October 31, PC Kitson
• Weyhill Fairground: 7.30pm on Thursday, November 17, PC Kitson
• Amport Parish Council: 7.30pm on Monday, December 12, PCSO Trowbridge

Click here to read the latest newsletter for this area

My name is PC Richard Jewell and I am the local beat manager for the area covering Abbotts Ann, Anna Valley, Upper Clatford, Goodworth Clatford, Wherwell, Longparish and Barton Stacey.   I have been a police officer since 1992. I started my career at Basingstoke before coming to the Andover area in 1998.

Over the coming weeks and months I will be arranging a number of informal meetings around the villages where we invite you to come and meet us and talk about the issues you may feel concern you and your neighbourhood. Incidents permitting, PCSO Lisa Flowers or I will be at the following locations:                                             

• School patrols, tbc
• Longparish shop, tbc
• Abbotts Ann shop, tbc

Click here to read the latest newsletter for this area.

I am PC John Viney, the beat manager for the villages of Stockbridge, Chilbolton and Leckford. I have been a police officer in Test Valley for a number of years and am particularly interested in all aspects of rural life. I strongly believe that all members of our community should be able to enjoy life without suffering unduly from crime, harassment or anti-social behaviour. I will do my best, along with our partner agencies to resolve any such issues. Please feel free to contact me directly at Stockbridge police station, by calling 101 or by e-mailing andoverrural.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk .

At present the priorities on this beat are reducing poaching offences and the theft of fuel. Various operations against suspected poachers have been conducted in recent months. Fuel thefts have been investigated and measures are being taken to improve security for bulk supplies. Those suspected of using stolen fuel in their vehicles have also been targeted by high profile road checks, where vehicle fuel tanks are checked.

I have asked local parish councils to consider whether there should be any changes or additions to these priorities. What do you think? If you have any concerns or issues in your neighbourhood you would like adding to the local policing priorities then please tell me! Myself or PCSO Lisa Flowers will be holding beat surgeries in the following locations to enable members of the community to meet us and raise any issues they have:

• Stockbridge High Street tbc
• Stockbridge Primary School, tbc

Click here to read the latest newsletter for this area.

YOUR POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS:

Police community support officers (PCSOs) routinely patrol places of concern to residents, including areas suffering from anti-social and nuisance behaviour. PCSOs provide a positive police presence throughout the area, deterring offenders and reassuring the public. They have formed good links with many people in the community and by gaining an understanding of the concerns of local residents, they can really help to provide solutions to problems affecting an area.

My name is PCSO Lisa Flowers and I joined the Andover Rural Safer Neighbourhoods team in September 2010. I work alongside PC John Viney, PC Martin Benton and PC Richard Jewell on their beats and am looking forward to working within the community and getting to know more of you very soon. If you see me out on patrol please come and say hello and please let me, or any of my colleagues, know if there are any issues or concerns in your neighbourhood which you would like our team to address. 

My name is PCSO Natalie Lock and I am the newest member of the Andover Rural Safer Neighbourhoods team. I will be helping to look after beat 8 with PC Bill Williams, beat 9 with PC Simon Beecroft and beat 12 with PC Roger Kitson. I am keen to meet as many members of the community as possible so please stop and say hello when you see me out on patrol. The beat managers and I will be regularly visiting the villages at certain pre-advertised times which should give everyone a chance to speak to us on an informal basis and let us know about any local issues or concerns in the neighbourhood. Please see PC Williams', PC Beecroft's and PC Kitson's sections above for the dates, times and locations of these. 

How you can take action

Come and tell us what is important to you in your neighbourhood, and play your part in setting local priorities.      

If you would like to meet your local Beat Officer and/or PCSO, please make contact with them through Stockbridge police station.  All officers have regular Community Engagement activity planned where they are available for you to speak to – details of these can be found above or can be obtained from any of the staff at Stockbridge police station.

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

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How to contact us

If you would like to speak to any of the officers responsible for policing in your local area, please call 101 or e-mail them on: andoverrural.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk.