TRUST in the police force has been put into further doubt after a Basingstoke mum suffered a ‘scary’ experience when she was stopped by two plain-clothed officers.

Clare, who works as a field co-ordinator delivering copies of the Gazette newspaper, has spoken of her disappointment with the police response when she was made to feel like she was wasting time when trying to verify if the officers were genuine. 

The 52-year-old said two men pulled up behind her in an unmarked car at 2pm last Thursday in Sandys Road, South Ham, blocking her in, before coming to her window and showing a police badge. 

The mum-of-two, who has worked for the Gazette for 17 years, said she had no idea if the officers were genuine, and was asked to show ID before being told it was a case of mistaken identity.

You can read the full story in this week’s edition of The Gazette. Also in this week's paper:

  • A senior councillor is urging residents to go through the NHS for Covid passport requirements after police launch an investigation into fake Covid passports, thought to have been produced in the Basingstoke area
  • Meet two first time runners who took part in the Basingstoke Half Marathon
  • Women and children in Rooksdown are risking their lives by running across a busy road, rather than taking a pitch-black pedestrian bridge. Read are full page double page spread looking at women’s safety.
  • Apollo Hotel has closed room bookings to the public for four months following what they describe as “a large group booking of their rooms”
  • A business owner at the Top of Town has criticised the borough council for failing to take action to improve the area
  • Police are investigating after a female food delivery driver was attacked by two men in an attempted carjacking last week
  • PLUS: All the latest from Basingstoke Magistrates' Court
  • Two pages of your letters to the editor 
  • Pictures: Our favourite photos of autumn nature in Basingstoke 
  • One page of news from our communities
  • An eight-page puzzle special
  • Two pages of business news
  • Three pages of entertainment news
  • Four pages of sports news. And much more!