Numbers to be bolstered in massive campaign aimed at combating anti-social behaviour

HAMPSHIRE Constabulary has revealed it is planning to recruit 500 more police community support officers by the end of 2008 to help combat nuisance behaviour.

There are now 30 of the full-time uniformed staff charged with supporting police officers in the county but the figure is set to rise to 539 after a massive recruitment drive.

Hampshire Chief Constable Paul Kernaghan said a huge campaign would be launched to recruit the hundreds of extra officers. He said the force's training centre in Netley is being expanded to cope with the "massive task" of preparing new recruits.

"Neighbourhood policing is a major government priority and we are getting significant money to recruit more PCSOs. They raise the visibility of policing on the streets and provide reassurance to the community," he said.

The latest recruitment drive comes as the government's annual police performance assessment report revealed crime is on a downward trend in the county.

Annual Police Performance Assessments were published by the Home Office last week, grading police forces in seven areas.

A league table ranked Hampshire joint-fifth with seven other forces, out of the 43 police forces nationally.

The county shone in two areas of the assessment - in reducing crime and providing assistance through general policing.

Resource use was classed as "good" and investigating crime, promoting safety, local policing and citizen focus were all described as "fair".

Hampshire has improved on last year's results in the policing and promoting safety categories. But its performance has deteriorated in the citizen focus and reducing crime categories.

The results of Hampshire Constabulary's baseline assessment - a self-assessment exercise - were also published, with 28 "good" and 15 "fair" results.

Chief Constable Kernaghan said: "I am particularly pleased with our excellent' grading for providing assistance. I know council taxpayers will also be pleased to note our good' grading for resource usage."

  • RINGWOOD town council has welcomed plans by Hampshire Police to introduce 30 new community support officers this year to crackdown on crime in the county.

Ringwood town clerk Terry Simpson said following a meeting with Chief Superintendent Ann Wakefield he was told four PCSOs would be deployed in the region to work alongside police.

Mr Simpson said one PSCO would cost the council £6,000 but that would secure the officer in the town, with the three remaining officers patrolling the district.

"We hope to fund one PCSO, who would patrol in the town," he said.

"Subject to the chief constable agreeing, it is intended that they would be able to issue fixed-penalty notices."

The PCSO would also cover some evening hours and it is hoped they will help overcome night-time nuisance and anti-social behaviour.