Basingstoke ObserverFOLLOWING several crimes in Basingstoke including a reported rape, a serious assault and a number of robberies, Hampshire Constabulary has issued several witness appeals in a bid to encourage members of the public to report anything they may know.
Reassurance patrols have also taken to the streets of Basingstoke and Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, has been provisionally allocated £3.5 million from the Home Office to tackle the root causes of violence and prevent young people from getting involved in crime through the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Do you have any information that could help with any of the ongoing enquiries?
Police are appealing for witnesses and information after an 18-year-old woman reported that she was raped in Basingstoke.
Officers were called on Tuesday 5 April to a report that a woman had been raped near Stratfield Road between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Sunday 3 April.
The young woman told officers she was walking through the wooded area near Stratfield Road when she was approached and attacked by two men unknown to her.
The men have been described as being between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 9ins tall and were both wearing black clothing.
An investigation is underway and the woman is being supported by specially trained officers.
Detective Inspector Claire Shawley, from Hampshire Constabulary’s Operation Amberstone team, said: “We know that reports such as this are very concerning for those living in the area and our officers are working to establish the exact circumstances.
Officers are carrying out extensive enquiries and we would like to appeal to anyone who was in the area to get in touch.
Were you in the Stratfield Road area between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Sunday? Did you see anything suspicious?
Officers will be carrying out increased patrols in the area. If you have any concerns or information, please don’t hesitate to speak to them.
Anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant you think it might be, please get in touch as it could really help our investigation.”
Please call 101, quoting 44220134393.
Hampshire Constabulary are also appealing for witnesses and information following reports that a teenager was seriously assaulted on Wote Street in Basingstoke.
At around 6pm on Monday 4 April, a 16-year-old boy was assaulted near Caffe Nero in Festival Place.
The victim suffered a head injury and was taken to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.
Officers attended the scene and arrested three teenagers.
A 15-year-old boy, from Basingstoke, was arrested on suspicion of robbery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and possession of a controlled drug of class B.
A 16-year-old boy, from Basingstoke, was arrested on suspicion of robbery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place,
A 16-year-old boy, from Basingstoke, was arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm with intent.
All three have been released on conditional bail and enquiries are ongoing.
Officers are now appealing for witnesses to come forward with information. Were you in the area at the time? Did you witness the incident?
Anyone with information is asked to contact 101, quoting the reference 44220132751.
Police are also appealing for witnesses and information following reports of a robbery in Brighton Hill Park in Basingstoke.
At around 2am on Sunday 3 April, three teenagers - believed to be aged between 16 and 19 - approached two teenagers sat on a park bench.
The three suspects threatened the pair and assaulted them. They have then made off with an electric scooter, two mobile phones and a set of AirPods.
One of the victims was left with bruises to the side of his head and swelling to his face. The other victim was bleeding from his nose.
The offenders entered and left the park via the direction of Brahms Road and Elgar Close.
They have been described as being black, 5ft 10ins tall and of slim build. Two of the suspects had short black hair, and were wearing tracksuits. The other suspect had his face covered.
Officers have been carrying out enquiries and are now appealing for witnesses.
Anyone with information is asked to contact 101, quoting 44220131387.
Commissioner Jones said: “I am very concerned about the growth of violence on our streets. I welcome the decision of the Home Office to provide three years of funding, giving us greater opportunities to find long term sustainable solutions and to build upon the initiatives that have been put in place.
When we look at the past experiences of young people who are committing knife crime a significant number have had a childhood that has included violence, drugs, alcohol abuse or other adverse experiences. It is important that can identify and resolve these issues early on to prevent them from escalating. The VRU will continue to roll out its work on Adverse Childhood Experiences which over the last year has seen 2,000 professionals trained in taking a Trauma Informed Approach and seen an acclaimed conference and initial pilot of Trauma Informed Policing delivered.
It is vital that we engage with young people as soon as we identify them as being vulnerable or at risk, and that support is available at key points. Over the past year the VRU has been expanding its Youth Navigator programme so it is now available in Portsmouth, Southampton, Basingstoke, Winchester and Isle of Wight hospitals. Arriving at A&E with injuries caused by violence, as well as other vulnerabilities such as mental ill health and self-harm can be a wake-up call, and having the right support in place can help these young people to realise there is a way out and to take positive steps to reduce risk of harm.”
Crime & Policing Minister, Kit Malthouse added: “The very worst part of my job is hearing from families who have lost loved ones to violence and finding out that something could have been done to prevent it.
We must do more to reach those at risk of violence early on to break the cycle of crime. Only then will we truly level up the country and give everyone the security of a safe street and home.
We’re throwing everything we have at this. At the heart, our pioneering Violence Reduction Units galvanise all parts of the public sector to tackle violent crime, and this approach is really starting to work.”
If you have any information that could help any of the investigations, please call 101 quoting the relevant reference number. Perhaps you have CCTV or were driving in the area at the time and have dash-cam footage? Did you see anything suspicious?
Alternatively, you can submit information via the following form: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/.
You can also submit information 100% anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting https://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/
