The number of crimes in Hampshire has fallen by ten per cent in the last twelve months, according to the force’s annual performance figures.

A total of 142,394 crimes were committed for the year 2009 to 2010, compared to 158,900 the year before. A specific campaign to target anti-social behaviour has been hailed as one of the key factors behind this.

Chief Constable Alex Marshall commented: “The figures show that we are continuing to cut crime. Our performance has been judged in a...

Police have issued a warning to motorists selling their cars after a theft in Brimpton Common.

The owner of an Audi Q7 met a potential buyer at The Pineapple pub. As the buyer was shown inside the vehicle, he got inside, locked the door and drove off. The car’s registration is RV56 ZKA and is worth £20,000 to £25,000.

The man is described as white, pale complexion, 5ft 10 ins to 6ft tall, aged in his late 20s with cropped mousey or ginger hair. He had a slight build, crooked teeth...

Police have released details of a burglary crackdown in the borough’s rural areas last month.

Operation Chord was held on Wednesday, March 10, Tuesday, March 16 and Friday March 26. Specialist departments from Hampshire Constabulary took to the roads in and around Tadley and Whitchurch to stop check suspicious vehicles. More than 230 vehicles were stopped and searched by 30 officers during the operation.

Basingstoke Rural Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector, Paul Robertson, said: “This was a...

A man was left nursing a black eye following an incident in the town last month.

The incident occurred at the Shell garage in Worting Road between 3pm and 4pm on Thursday, March 18. The victim had finished filling up his car when a man approached in his car and punched him in the head through the open window. He suffered bruising and a lack eye following the incident.

PC Daniel Coppin, of the Basingstoke Targeted Patrol Team, said: “This was a completely unprovoked assault that happened...