BISHOP'S Waltham is set to hire a police-backed community officer to deter anti-social behaviour.

The parish council will hire its own Accredited Community Support Officer (ACSO) after Hampshire County Council announced it was dropping the service.

One full-time or two part-time officers will be shared with Denmead and Swanmore parish councils, with bosses splitting split their wage of up to £32,000 per year.

The uniformed officer will work in Bishop's Waltham for two-and-a-half days a week to reassure residents and deter troublemakers.

ACSOs’ limited powers include confiscating alcohol and cigarettes from underage people, requesting the removal of abandoned vehicles and issuing penalty notices for littering, graffiti and cycling on footpaths.

Rural police have been cut in recent years as Hampshire Constabulary restructures to cope with government spending cuts.

At a meeting last week, parish councillor Robert Shields questioned the value of hiring an ACSO given many officer powers are irrelevant in a safe area like Bishop's Waltham.

Passing the motion after a split vote, chairman Cllr Tracy Conduct said employing an officer would give the council control over when and where they work with no danger of them being called to another job.