Alresford Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) is moving to a new location at Alresford Fire Station, Pound Hill, Alresford, this Saturday (Dec 15).
The police and fire service are joining forces by sharing office space in a bid to offer best value for money to the public and to maintain police presence in the heart of the community.
This plan ensures that police officers and staff remain visible and accessible.
We are policing in a time in which mobile technology allows officers and staff to work out of various locations, alongside our partners. We already have a number of officers in the force successfully working from alternative locations, such as at schools, supermarkets and fire stations.
The current police station will close after Alresford SNT has moved to their new location.
Following a review of the force's estate, some police buildings were found to be no longer needed for current operational policing needs. These police buildings will be sold and capital raised will be used to ensure the Estate Development Programme, which includes a new headquarters, an operational police campus, four new Police Investigation Centres and an extensive refurbishment programme, will be cost neutral.
Winchester Rural North Sector Inspector Patrick Reddin, said: "There will be very little noticeable difference to the service provision from police at Alresford. The resource strength will be identical and the new sharing facility is a short walk from the existing building and on the main road, providing greater visibility.
"We promised in 2011 that we would not be leaving Alresford, just moving location and we have kept to our promise. The new facility is a method to reduce public costs, share facilities with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and continue to provide a quality service to the public."
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Station Manager Glenn Bowyer said: "I am delighted that Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hampshire Constabulary are working together in this way. It clearly demonstrates our commitment to work closely together and find more efficient ways to do so. It also provides us with the opportunity to support our local communities in a more integrated way."
Simon Hayes, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, said: "This example from Alresford of public services sharing community facilities is one that I am keen to see replicated across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and I will be asking the estate development programme to identify other such opportunities in the two counties. We cannot remain wedded to the idea that we need a police station to have a policing presence - officers need to be at the heart of the communities they serve, and if that means working with our partners in buildings such as community centres and supermarkets, that is the move we should be making."
If you would like to contact the Alresford SNT, please call 101 or email snt.winchester.north.rural.northern@hampshire.pnn.police.uk