HAMPSHIRE Constabulary has set the policing priorities for the next three months for Alton and its surrounding villages after residents took part in an online survey to flag up issues they felt most strongly about.

Feedback from the survey has been assessed alongside crime trends and intelligence to identify issues within the communities that can be addressed by the area’s neighbourhood policing teams.

Alton Town

According to the police, in Alton town residents said they were concerned about anti-social behaviour in the town centre in the evening in the run up to Christmas, closely linked to the night-time economy.

The main areas of concern were said to have been Market Square, Cross and Pillory Lane, and the High Street.

As a result the police have made use of dispersal powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act of 2014, and there has been an increase in day and night-time patrols in the area, both of which have produced positive results.

Alton’s patrols will continue to target known hotspots in a bid to prevent and deter unwanted behaviour.

Police also saw a rise in the number of reports of burglary offences immediately before Christmas to retail, commercial and business premises. The neighbourhood policing teams, response teams and investigations are said to be working together on this issue to disrupt criminal activity proactively and explore all lines of enquiry to identify the offenders.

Police community support officer Mohammed is overseeing what crime prevention advice can be offered relating to non-dwelling burglaries and would welcome any information or ideas that may assist police dealing with this issue. He can be contacted on 101.

People living in Alton also said they were concerned about assaults.

While the number of offences relating to assault in Alton have actually dropped in the last three months, the neighbourhood policing teams will continue to work to reduce anti-social behaviour and any related violent incidents in the town.

Alton Rural

In the rural areas around Alton, residents expressed concern about poaching and criminal damage.

While the number of reports of poaching have actually reduced in the last 90 days, police say they will continue to target patrols to try to prevent offences and deal robustly with offenders when the evidence exists.

Although the number of criminal damage reports have increased in rural locations the neighbourhood policing teams has been patrolling and offering crime prevention advice to combat this trend.

As with Alton town, there has been a rise in the number of non-dwelling burglaries reported in rural areas and the police will continue to patrol hotspots and provide crime prevention advice to tackle this issue.

Four Marks and Ropley

The concerns of residents in Four Marks and Ropley centred around non-dwelling burglaries and issues such as theft from gardens and outbuildings. These issues remain a priority for the East Hampshire area and, as in other areas, the neighbourhood policing teams will continue to patrol hotspots and provide crime prevention advice to tackle this issue.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Sergeant Claire Winter said: “People living in Alton and the surrounding area have raised a number of issues that are of concern to them. It’s important that our local neighbourhood policing teams receive feedback like this to ensure we are addressing the issues that affect you.

“It’s especially important in rural areas where smaller communities may be affected by specific issues. I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t already taken part to fill out the next survey which will go live at the end of February so that everyone gets to have their say.”

She continued: “I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone to report crime and anti-social behaviour, however minor it may seem, and regardless of whether you think we are likely to identify a suspect.

“We know that incidents don’t get reported to us, and we can only target our resources effectively if we have an accurate picture of what is happening. You can report through our website or by phoning 101 for non-emergency matters.”

To take part in the next survey, which will be launched during the last week of February, visit surveymonkey.com/r/altonapril.