A NEW high-visibility team hit the borough’s streets this week as part of a crackdown on crime hotspots. The community safety patrols, provided jointly by Basingstoke and Deane borough council and Hampshire county council, were launched on Friday, February 12. The 16-strong team will work closely with residents to tackle issues and help them feel safer in their community. Eleven areas will receive focused patrols with assigned officers. These include Eastrop, Brighton Hill, Noden, South Ham, Popley East and more.
Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Development and Transport, Cllr Clive Sanders, said: “The thing that comes out as a top priority in all residents’ research is that people want to feel safe when they go out and in their own homes. “High visibility patrols have a huge impact on that. “But in the past there has been a lot of confusion for residents about all the different patrols on the streets in Hampshire. “That is why we consulted widely and introduced the new structure to use all our resources to create a seamless team where residents can be confident that whoever they approach, they will be able to tackle their issues."
