Joint statement from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Acting Chief Constable Sam de Reya and Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, in response to the Government announcement on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Acting Chief Constable Sam de Reya, said:

“We welcome the national focus on delivering exceptional and more trusted local policing, alongside reducing anti-social behaviour, as outlined in the latest announcement on the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

“This has been at the heart of our mission over the past two years and, working with the Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, we have transformed the way we work to ensure we are tackling the issues that we know really matter to our communities.

“Providing exceptional local policing is the driving force behind all that we are doing. People in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight rightly expect to live in communities that are safe, and feel safe, for themselves and their families. They want to see officers on the streets dealing with the issues that matter to them.

“That is why, two years ago, we undertook a restructure of the force to give more power to policing districts and bring officers much closer to the communities they serve.

“Our Local Bobbies scheme, introduced in January 2024, means communities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight already have contactable, named officers for each beat area. They are a point of contact in their communities, identifying threat, risk and harm and addressing root causes of crime. We continue to invest in their expertise, and this scheme will see further investment in 2025/26.

“In March last year, we launched our Let’s Talk initiative, which has meant we are more aware of the concerns of our communities. Since the scheme was launched, more than 30,000 online surveys have been completed, which has enabled us to enhance our policing and work with partner agencies to address the concerns raised.

“That information has helped us better understand where our hotspots are, so we can put officers on patrol in the right areas at the right times. As part of our restructure, we created specialist teams of officers, working alongside our Neighbourhood Policing officers, including our Neighbourhood Enforcement Teams and Area Crime Teams, to help target offenders.

“We have also been working hard to tackle anti-social behaviour that can blight communities. We have a force lead for ASB, and our ASB team provides tactical advice for local officers to make sure we respond to concerns and make best use of our powers, including the increased use of Criminal Behaviour Orders and closure orders, as well as working effectively with partner agencies.

“Operation Crush, targeting the illegal use of privately owned, powered, two-wheel vehicles such as e-scooters, saw more than 100 vehicles destroyed in its first year, and our work with the retail community to tackle shoplifting has been recognised nationally. We are seeing a growing confidence in reporting and a significant increase in the formal action taken against offenders, especially those who repeatedly victimise stores and staff with their criminality.

“All this work has seen a 7.8 per cent reduction in ASB across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, compared to the previous year, bucking the national crime trend seen elsewhere. 

“While we have made great strides in this area, we are not complacent, and will look at every option available to us to best serve the communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”

Donna Jones, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, said: 

“I have heard from countless people who want anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood to stop; I’ve heard from victims of crime who have been denied justice; I have heard from residents who have expected a better police response when they’ve called for help, and I’ve heard from people who just want to see a police officer on the beat. 

“The government has made this commitment because people want to feel safe in their communities. People want their police force to patrol their streets and focus on what works to drive down crime. 

“Having named and contactable police officers for every community works. I introduced the Local Bobby scheme last year to ensure every village, town, city and community in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight have their own police officer. A Bobby who knows their residents, knows their patch and delivers approachable but tough neighbourhood policing. 

“Patrols have increased in rural areas and in town centres, and there has been a significant reduction in crime over the last 12 months. Communities feel safer, anti-social behaviour has reduced, and charge rates have increased. It’s clear communities feel safer when the police understand the real concerns in their communities and are easy to contact.

 
“Building back confidence in the system is tough, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary still has a way to go but regionally it has set the standard, and by 2026, I will ensure the force will have the highest number of police officers to protect and serve in over a decade.”