A public meeting takes place on Wednesday, July 24, from 6.30-7.30pm about a possible change of premises for Portswood's community policing team.
The Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) currently operates out of Portswood Police Station, but there's a trend for SNTs to move away from costly police stations and to rent alternative premises in an effort to save cash. In Shirley and in some Hampshire towns including Stockbridge, SNTs already operate from premises rented from fire stations.
This is combined with smarter working for example using digital tools like tablet computers.
Police say the meeting will make the public aware of whats happening and why, and provide reassurance that police will remain visible in the heart of the community.
Acting Director of Hampshire Constabularys Estate Development Programme, Chief Inspector Rob Heath, said:
We are policing in a time in which mobile technology allows officers and staff to work out of various locations, alongside our partners. We already have a number of officers in the force successfully working from alternative locations, such as at schools, supermarkets and fire stations.
The Daily Echo reported that speculation has risen that the SNT could actually be found a home in Sainsburys. However a police spokeperson said there are currently no plans for a specific alternative base for the Portswood SNT team.