NEW speed restrictions that could be introduced across Eastleigh may help to put the brakes on crime in the borough.

Eastleigh's roads are to be put under the microscope by civic chiefs looking for suitable areas to slow motorists down to 20 miles per hour.

It is hoped the zones will not only help calm traffic and reduce speed but also assist in the fight against crime in residential areas.

Eastleigh's head of engineering Duncan McVey told borough councillors: "Crime levels in an area tend to fall following measures which reduce the speed of traffic.

"The reason for this seems to be that committing a crime becomes less attractive to the offender because the number of quick escape routes is reduced."

Referring to measures currently being put in place to tackle crime in Eastleigh, Mr McVey added: "Initia-tives to reduce the speed of traffic in residential areas could make a significant contribution to this safety work."

The 20mph zone project, which, as reported in the Echo, is already set to be piloted outside Wildern school, Hedge End, has been the subject of a countywide report on the government's speed management proposals.

Now members of the borough's five local area committees have been asked to act as the driving force behind the proposed scheme's initial stages.

It will be their job to earmark roads in their regions that already enjoy traffic-calming measures in the form of speed humps or cushions and that could be promoted as 20mph zones.

Local funding will also be used to look at areas in and around schools and residential areas.

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