Huhne presses police on West End problems

10.44.57am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 12th Apr 2006

Mr Huhne has raised the issue of West End policing with Chief Superintendent Ann Wakefield

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne is backing improved policing in West End village in an attempt to crack down on a recent rash of vandalism and crime.

Mr Huhne has raised the issue of West End policing with Chief Superintendent Ann Wakefield following incidents affecting shop keepers and garage owners down the High Street.

Mr Huhne recently visited Ted Keogh, the owner of the watch repair shop in the High Street who was recently assaulted and robbed in a raid on his shop by a gang, pictured here with Mr Huhne, Joyce Sortwell of the parish council and local campaigner Bruce Tennent.

Mr Keogh, who was injured in the robbery, told Mr Huhne that he had decided to shorten his opening hours because he did not like to be alone in the shop following the incident.

Mr Huhne is monitoring the situation carefully following vandalism at Viking garages and trouble at The Local (formerly Thresher), also in West End High Street, and the decision of the parish council to support a community support officer.

Mr Huhne said that the decision of the parish council to pay £25,000 showed the strength of feeling in the village which followed a 1,380 strong petition for more visible policing, CCTV cameras and anti-social behaviour orders where necessary.

Mr Huhne said: "With the reorganisation of the Hampshire police so that the Eastleigh basic command unit has now been amalgamated into a much larger western unit including New Forest and Test Valley, local residents are looking for proof that the police are responsive to local concerns. I will continue to raise the problems in West End until they have been resolved".

"It worries me that a local community should feel the need to invest extra resources in policing when there is a already a substantial police precept" said Mr Huhne.