CRIME victims in Hampshire could soon be able to alert police by e-mail or text messages.

Police chiefs are looking into a new system that would be a first in the UK.

Senior officers are discussing the move to head off complaints that people find it difficult to contact them by telephone.

Talks have already been held with a firm to introduce the scheme.

It would not replace the 999 emergency number but could bypass Hampshire and Isle of Wight police's main 0845 045 4545 switchboard.

The move is a bid to solve an acknowledged communications problem after claims that the police are difficult to contact by telephone and that people fail to get a response to messages.

News of the direct contact system was revealed at a public meeting in Chandler's Ford staged by Hampshire Police Authority to discuss policing issues.

Chandler's Ford borough councillor Michael Hughes said: "Contacting the police through the phone is a non-starter. You don't get a response to phone calls. My experience is that it is very difficult to get hold of the police."

Eastleigh-based Chief Insp Jill Baldry acknowledged police were conscious of the problem.

But she added: "We had a meeting about a new initiative. We have to think of all sorts of options available to us. We are looking at an e-mail system which has the potential for people to contact us and us them either direct from e-mail or from mobile phones.

"It is something we will be progressing. We need to open up the ability for people to communicate with us. It is a key issue."

The scheme will be brought into Eastleigh but if successful it may be introduced in other Hampshire communities, although not county wide.

Stressing it would be an Eastleigh scheme, Chief Insp Baldry added: "If we introduced this at headquarters level it would be so bureaucratic and large that it wouldn't get off the ground."

She said the Eastleigh division was also looking at providing pagers for direct line contact with beat officers.

After the meeting Chief Insp Baldry told the Daily Echo the idea was to provide a stand-alone 21st century communications system for the Eastleigh police division to provide a direct link for the public.

"We want to use it for people who want to get something off their chest to report it and get a quick response."

But she added that the police would have to examine whether it would be cost-effective and would also be looking for a partnership scheme - probably with the council.