HAMPSHIRE Police is reducing the number of neighbourhood officers operating in the New Forest.

The force plans to reduce the number of neighbourhood PCs in the district by nine.

The police officers will be replaced by police community support officers (PCSOs), who have no powers of arrest.

Chief Inspector Simon Tribe said that thanks to shift and personnel changes the neighbourhood teams would nevertheless become more “visible and accessible” than before.

“In making these changes we are ensuring we put our staff in the right place to maintain the standards of service the community currently receives,” said Mr Tribe.

“While this means there will be fewer police officers across the district, the changes we are introducing around shift patterns and reducing the demand on these officers to cover other functions means that the teams will be more visible and accessible, and most importantly, targeting those who commit crime in our communities and bringing them to justice.”

He said the force would continue to respond to emergencies reported by calling 999 – with one team of response officers based at Lyndhurst Police Station.

Non-emergency calls should still be reported via 101.

Mr Tribe said: “You may notice that more incidents will be dealt with by speaking to a police officer on the phone.

“This again is to ensure that we give the most appropriate response to every call.”

The force is making changes across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in a bid to better cope with budget restrictions.

In the New Forest, PCSO numbers will be maintained at 333, and the force plans to recruit more in the near future.

The Country Watch scheme is set to be continued, with dedicated officers.

Hampshire Police has also stated that police buildings will not be disposed of “until an alternative location within the same community is found”.

A force spokesman said the Police and Crime Commissioner’s estate strategy was to “work with and share facilities with key partners where and when possible”, citing the basing of officers at the New Milton Town Council offices as an example.