THREE new police community support officers have started work in the district thanks to a deal between the office of the police and crime commissioner, East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) and Hampshire Constabulary.

The three positions are being paid for by EHDC, with the council setting aside around £280,000 for the next three years, and the community support officers’ day-to-day activities will be managed by Hampshire Police.

The officers began work on September 1 and will be on the streets supporting EHDC’s community safety team with issues such as anti-social behaviour, crime prevention, and environmental concerns.

Dean Mohammed will work in and around Alton, Kieren Rogers will patrol the Butser area, and Wade Hicks has been designated to Longmoor.

Although the community support officers will be managed by the police and spend most of their time working on police-related community safety issues, there is a system to allow EHDC to request they help with particular issues in the district.

District council leader Ferris Cowper said: “For many years we have worked in close association with Hampshire Constabulary to tackle the kind of low-level crime and anti-social behaviour which can blight people’s lives.

“By funding three new police community support officers to work exclusively in the district we will be providing further support for our local police service while giving EHDC the capacity to focus on issues that affect the residents of East Hampshire directly.”

Chief Inspector Beth Pirie said: “We are keen to develop partnerships with other agencies to tackle issues that directly impact our communities.

“The police community support officers will be managed in the same way as their colleagues and will be able to undertake other duties on behalf of EHDC as required. It’s important to remember that these are not warranted officers, they do not have the power of arrest. Their focus will be to support their local communities as opposed to investigating crime.”

Simon Hayes, the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire, said: “I am delighted that three police community support officers have been appointed in East Hampshire. Their appointment will ensure that the local community receives the service it deserves without further expense to the taxpayer. All parties involved in this initiative are keen to explore how it is of benefit to the people of East Hampshire.

“Persistent and unprecedented cuts to police budgets by central Government have meant that we have to consider innovative approaches to funding while retaining the same high-quality policing service that Hampshire residents expect to receive.

“Through my police and crime plan, I have always been clear that the police must remain at the heart of local communities – a view that is consistently expressed by members of the public when I meet them.”