Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has announced 90 more police officers for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
The 90 extra roles will mean the Commissioner has enabled the force to increase its police officer numbers by 815 since 2020. Once recruited, it will mean the force will have the highest number of police officers in over a decade.
This decision came after the Police and Crime Panel supported her 2025/26 budget proposal on Friday 31 January which outlined funding for 50 more police officers through an increase in council tax. The extra 40 police officers has been made possible following the government’s announcement to provide forces with an extra £100 milllion to boost neighbourhood policing. The Constabulary’s share of the £100 million equates to £2.6 million per year allowing the Commissioner to pledge 90 more officers to serve communities.
Speaking on the announcement, the PCC Donna Jones said: “The year-on-year increase in police officer numbers and falling crime rates is a testament to Chief Constable Scott Chilton’s back-to-basics approach to crime fighting, supported by sound financial management.
“Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary is one of the fastest improving forces in the country. We are leading the way in neighbourhood policing with the successful implementation of my Local Bobby scheme; we now deliver one of the best performing 101 and 999 services nationally; charge rates have gone up by 34%, crime has gone down by almost 7,000 crimes a year, and the force’s response to shop theft has been heralded as one of the best in the country by retailers.
“We also have one of the largest reductions in knife crime nationwide, anti-social behaviour has plummeted by over 50% since 2021, and we have opened seven more police stations to the public over the last 12 months.
“It has been another transformative year. The Chief and I agree, this momentum must continue. As part of the extra 90 police officers announced today there will be 15 officers added to my Local Bobby scheme to drive up police visibility in rural areas.”
Year-on-year police officer recruitment
- 2020 – 2023 + 600
- 2023 – 2024 + 50
- 2024 – 2025 + 75
- 2025 – 2026 + 90
- TOTAL = 815 additional police officers funded