It's fair to say that police have had their work cut out this year.

From enforcing Covid regulations during lockdown to the usual day-to-day operations, 2020 has been a year that everyone will remember for some time to come.

And there has been plenty of police incidents that we at The Gazette have reported on that people will remember in years to come.

Here, we look back at seven of the biggest police incidents that Basingstoke has faced this year - from car accidents to bomb hoaxes.

1. Festival Place evacuation

Back in February, the town's shopping centre was evacuated for three hours as police dealt with a suspicious package left in the toilets near Wimpy.

It was a Friday afternoon and people were busy shopping in town when all of a sudden staff evacuated part of the centre.

Just before 4pm, a 100-metre cordon was put in place as officers investigated reports of a suspicious package.

Basingstoke Gazette:

But around 30 minutes after the incident began, police extended the cordon to the whole building.

The bomb squad rushed to the scene and determined that the package was a hoax.

Shoppers were let back in after about three hours stood in the cold.

A 21-year-old man was arrested at the time, but he has been released and the investigation is still ongoing.

2. Beggarwood Lane crash

In November, emergency services rushed to Beggarwood after a head-on collision on a residential road.

Beggarwood Lane was cordoned off for several hours on November 13 after a white Mini and a black Audi had been involved in a nasty collision, with debris strewn across the carriageway.

A number of fire engines, ambulances and police cars were all spotted at the scene.

Basingstoke Gazette:

In the days that followed, it was announced that both drivers were arrested on suspicion of drink driving, whilst the 29-year-old man who was behind the wheel of the Audi fleeing the scene, according to police, and was detained when officers located him in the area.

Three people suffered minor injuries in the crash, with one person having to be taken to hospital to have their injuries assessed.

Kirstie Pearman, 26 of Rycroft Meadow, was charged with driving with excess alcohol and will appear at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on January 12, 2021.

The man remains under investigation, police have confirmed.

3. Cannabis factory found in Odiham

Residents of Odiham were also shocked in November after a suspected cannabis factory was found in Potbridge.

Around 180 plants were recovered when police raided the property on November 17.

Four people were arrested at the time, and they remain under investigation.

4. Double stabbing in one weekend

Police officers in Basingstoke upped their patrols in June after two people were stabbed in consecutive days.

The first incident happened in Schubert Road, Brighton Hill on Saturday, June 20.

Police said that a 17-year-old boy was stabbed just after 2.30pm. Two boys, aged 15 and 16 were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. They remain under investigation.

The father of the boy spoke to the Gazette days after the attack, raising concerns about rising youth violence in the town.

You can see what he had to say here.

A day later, another man was stabbed, this time in South Ham.

Police and ambulance crews were scrambled to Diana Close just after 6pm on June 21, where a man was found with "serious" stab wounds.

Nobody has ever been arrested in connection with this incident.

5. Fatal motorbike crash in Popley

The New Year started with tragedy after a beloved father and fiancé died in a motorcycle crash in Popley.

Matt Harris was pronounced dead at the scene after his Honda CRF motorbike was hit by a Vauxhall Vectra at the junction of Abbey Road and Popley Way on January 2.

Basingstoke Gazette:

The driver of the Vectra was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, but has since been released.

The crash is still under investigation, and police are still asking for the driver of the maroon van that was positioned just behind the Vectra when the collision happened to come forward.

Dozens of motorcyclists turned up to the funeral.

6. Police officer stabbed on Easter Sunday

A police officer was allegedly attacked with two knives in a shocking incident at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Whilst most of the town was at home during the first lockdown, police were called to a disturbance at Churchill Place, next to the bus station.

An officer, in his 20s, was allegedly stabbed. He was taken to hospital but later made a full recovery.

Basingstoke Gazette:

The man that police believe to be behind the attack is Thomas Gracey, a 44-year-old from Littlemore, Oxfordshire.

He is due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on January 13, 2021.

7. Longbridge Mill attack

Bystanders were left in shock after a group of boys attack a teenager at a popular beauty spot.

A 17-year-old boy was relaxing on the banks of the River Loddon near The Longbridge Mill when a group of boys attacked him.

A police spokesman said: "The violent incident caused distress to those who witnessed it as well as injury and trauma to the victim, who sustained concussion and swelling to his face."

A 16-year-old boy was sent to youth custody over the attack.

He was given a detention order and made to pay compensation.