A FORMER Hampshire Police detective inspector has teamed up with Winchester business leaders to tackle crime in the city.

Jane Bastock has been appointed crime reduction officer at Winchester Business Improvement District, a new role that will work in partnership with the police and city council.

She recently retired as detective inspector for Winchester and East Hampshire and has more than 30 years experience.

Mrs Bastock said: “We are determined to make Winchester a safer place. I welcome both this stronger unified approach to reduce crime and disorder in the city, and the opportunity to help develop and support local businesses.”

She is experienced in managing complex crime, domestic violence and child protection and will be involved in schemes such as Shopwatch and Pubwatch to ensure a safe environment for city shops, bars and restaurants.

Chris Turner, BID executive director, said “We are delighted to have Jane Bastock on the team. She has a wealth of experience and is very well connected and highly respected with a proven track record of developing positive working relationships within the local agencies and the wider community. She will also work closely with the members of Shopwatch and Pubwatch to help improve the city's evening economy.”

Catherine Turness, BID manager, added: “This important new appointment is a significant step forward for Winchester BID. We have not had a dedicated role devoted to this before. The aim is to also address the underlying causes of crime in order to achieve a permanent improvement to the quality of life in our community.”