ROMSEY has lost its top officer in a major shake-up of policing areas being rolled out across Hampshire.

Inspector Jackie Willson has been moved to a new role at the force’s Netley headquarters in the restructure which sees the creation of a new policing area which exactly mirrors that of Test Valley Borough Council It is part of a force-wide new look which brings policing areas into line with local authority boundaries.

District Inspector Paul Markham takes charge of daily policing operations across the Test Valley on Monday.

“I will be predominately based in Romsey and I am looking forward to my new role. I will be out on patrol with the officers in Romsey and getting to know everybody,” said the 34-year-old officer who joined the Hampshire force 12 years ago.

His first post was in Basingstoke where he was a beat officer and later promoted to sergeant. He became an inspector at Andover in 2012.

District Inspector Markham will have 42 Prevention and Neighbourhood Officers under his wing along with 19 Police Community Support Officers.

Four sergeants will be under him. Sergeant Alyson West will continue to cover Romsey and Sergeant Russ Hodges will cover the rural areas around Romsey. Sergeants Glenn Curtis and Steve Parker will cover areas in the north of the new patch.

“Bringing policing areas in line with council boundaries will be much better for everyone. Test Valley was the only area around Hampshire that was split in two for policing,” said Inspector Markham.

Kory Thorne is District Commander for the Test Valley and his role will be to work closely with borough council chief executive Roger Tetstall on crime prevention and other policing matters in an area.

Currently Romsey and surrounding villages fall within the force’s Western area which includes the New Forest, Southampton, Eastleigh and Hedge End.

Stockbridge and nearby villages are in the Northern policing area which includes Andover, Basingstoke and Winchester. Inspector Jackie Willson, who has been based in Romsey for the last five years, has a new role will be monitoring the Hampshire force’s performances. Inspector Willson said: “I’ve been here just over five years and I will really miss it. The move has come about as the result of force reorganisation. The new Test Valley policing area will be in line with the local authority area which is a positive move.”

Asked whether she’d miss her job at Romsey, Inspector Willson added: “I’ve loved working with the community and building the strong partnerships we have in the town. It’s been very rewarding. Inspector Paul Markham will have a much bigger area to cover. Officers will still be based at Romsey and Andover Police Stations.”

Turning to her new role, Inspector Willson added: “I am going to be looking at the force’s performances including the quality of investigations and also looking at public confidence in policing. It’s a new challenge, but I am very sad to be leaving such a lovely policing area as Romsey. I will miss the contact that I have with the public.”

Inspector Willson said she will still be in charge of Operation Tornado in Hampshire – a drive to reduce precious metal thefts across the county.

Inspector Willson added that since she became in charge at Romsey there had been a “big reduction” in antisocial behaviour and she hoped this would continue.

Inspector Willson, who lives in the New Forest, joined Hampshire Constabulary 27 years ago. She was promoted to Inspector in 1999 serving in Southampton and the New Forest before coming to Romsey.

Inspector Willson said that nine officers would remain in the neighbourhood policing team at Romsey under the restructure changes that will be phased in.

“The good news is the number of police community support officers’ at Romsey is increasing from eight to ten,” said Inspector Willson.

Her colleague Sergeant Alyson West said her boss would be missed and wished her well in her new job.

“Everybody at Romsey will miss Jackie. We have always welcomed her support and guidance over the years,” said Sgt West.