Police crack down on rural crime in North Hampshire

Disrupting criminal activity and tackling anti-social behaviour was the focus of a special operation carried out in the rural area of Basingstoke, based on feedback from local residents.
The convoy of marked police vehicles stopped in Tadley and Kingsclere, also Whitchurch, Overton, Bramley and Basingstoke town centre.
Police then dispersed to conduct high visibility patrols, also holding briefings in public, centred around a huge digital screen displaying crime prevention messages.
A number of vehicle stop-checks were completed and people were also stopped, spoken to and checked by officers.Visits to 24 licensed premises – shops and pubs – in each town or village were also made.
Two people were given street warnings for possession of cannabis – including one in Tadley and another in Overton.
Insp Darren Rawlings said the operation proved a great example of how high visibility policing could really make a difference:
“The feedback we had from the public on the night was very positive and people seemed to like seeing so many officers out on the streets,” he said, adding:
“We tweeted live from the operation, complete with pictures which led to a mini surge in followers for the @BasingstokeCops @OvertonPolice and @TadleyPolice accounts.”
Anyone with concerns about crime, including anti-social behaviour, can contact police via the non emergency telephone number, 101.