Community Safety

Local Policing, Neighbourhood Watch and Country Watch

Policing in the area has been traced back to 1855 and the village's first resident policeman.  The police beat house in Stenbury Drive was built in 1954, and until 2005 housed both the officer and his family and provided an office from which to work.

Nowadays, the Preston Candover beat of some 50 square miles is covered by the Rural Division of the Basingstoke Basic Command Unit.  Local residents are encouraged to contact PC Reid for all non-emergencies or enquiries but all emergency calls should be made via the 999 system. 

PC Reid is the local beat officer.  He comes from a rural background, his father having been a game keeper for almost 30 years.  His policing experience has been far and wide with service in central and outer London along with two county constabularies.  Prior to becoming a regular officer, PC Reid was an active member of the Wiltshire Special Constabulary.  He is keen to provide a professional and traditional standard of policing to all members of his rural communities and is genuinely interested within the rural community and the challenges it faces.  He has received both a commendation from his Divisional Superintendent and an award from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for his dedicated beat work.      

PC Reid encourages all local residents to report any suspicious persons or vehicles as soon as possible.  Likewise in line with the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, and there is also an active Country Watch Scheme.  These schemes can keep farmers, landowners and rural businesses updated on rural crime within the local area.  There is also a highly successful Keeper Watch Scheme organised between the local game keepers and PC Reid. 

Success has been had on several occasions where game keepers have informed PC Reid of suspicious vehicles and illegal hare-coursing which has resulted in several convictions, the last of which resulted in the offender receiving a heavy fine and having his private car seized.   

PC Reid  County Police Office, Alton Road, Basingstoke, RG25 2PQ
Telephone 01256 389050 or mobile number 07768 776844

To find out about the work of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team and for details including beat surgery times, safety advice and more visit the Hampshire Police website local policing pages at www.hampshire.police.uk

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