HAMPSHIRE Police has launched a scheme to bring back ‘local bobbies’ to cover the beat in specific areas.
Winchester has three new dedicated neighbourhood officers, assisted by at least one Police Community Support Officer (PCSO).
PC Thomas Harries and PCSO Warn will cover Winchester North which includes Weeke, Harestock, Littleton and Fulflood.
PC Will Andrews and PCSO Window will cover Winchester South which includes Stanmore, Badger Farm and Oliver's Battery.
READ MORE: Local police bobbies to return to Hampshire
PC Mark Jeffery will be the dedicated beat officer for the city centre, which also includes parts of Hyde, Winnall, St Cross, Highcliffe and Abbotts Barton. He is assisted by PCSOs Leung, Parker and Gretton.
In the wider Winchester district, PC Hayley Goodsell will be covering the Alresford, Itchen Valley, Kings Worthy, Micheldever and South Wonston, PC Rob Power has been allocated Swanmore, Bishop’s Waltham, Upper Meon Valley, Soberton, Hambledon and Droxford, PC Sharon Conway will be looking after Colden Common, Twyford, Wickham, Owslebury, Curdridge and Shedfield and PC Sarah Clement will be the local bobby for East Meon.
The move goes some way to reversing the policing cuts in the austerity area after the financial crash of the late noughties.
Winchester Police posted on Facebook: “These officers will be more visible in the area and will be committed to attending community meetings and events, as well as working to resolve longstanding community issues.”
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The scheme means that anyone can know who their local bobby is and find their email and direct mobile number, making them more accessible.
Local bobbies will stay in touch with communities, by addressing their concerns and root causes of local crimes by working closely with partner agencies to identify the best problem solving approach.
To check who’s responsible for each are go to police.uk/pu/your-area/hampshire-constabulary/.
To contact a local beat officer go to hampshire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/ or email the team via winchester.city.police@hampshire.police.uk with the subject marked FAO of either of the officers (this address is not for reporting crime).
Anyone who requires police assistance should continue to report via the usual 101/999 channels.
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