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BIG changes to rural policing near Basingstoke have met with a mixed response.

In March, it was announced in The Gazette that 15 officers from the rural targeted patrol team (TPT) - covering areas including Tadley, Overton and Kingsclere - are being moved from their current base at Whitchurch police station to the town centre later this year.

But not everyone is happy about the changes that Chief Inspector Jill Baldry has said are to make the best use of police resources and not for cost-cutting purposes.

Councillor Peter Woodman, chairman of Kingsclere Parish Council, said his village could lose coverage. He said: "At the moment, we have a considerable flow of officers during the day, moving between Tadley and Whitchurch, passing through Kingsclere, and from time to time they do stop.

"It's good for the neighbourhood to have police cars driving through the village, to emphasise police presence."

He added that in areas of the village such as Swan Street - where vehicles park in the road often obstructing traffic - passing police officers will stop and warn motorists and sometimes issue a ticket.

However, in Tadley, councillors are more positive about the effects of the move.

Avril Burdett, chairman of Tadley Parish Council, said: "We are fairly confident that Tadley is still going to be well provided for.

"A lot of rural police working out on the rural beat will use the Tadley office as a base, so we will be quite well served.

"Hopefully, it's going to improve things."

At the Whitchurch Annual Town Meeting, Paul Robertson, the new inspector for Basingstoke Rural, said: "We will continue to do business as usual.

"There will always be at least one area car providing 24/7 cover and it is anticipated they will spend their whole time in the rural area, even their lunch breaks."

11:12am Saturday 10th May 2008

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