Hampshire's PCC starts work

Donna Jones completes formalities and hold her first meeting the Chief Constable

Author: Jonathan RichardsPublished 13th May 2021

Hampshire's new Police and crime commissioner Donna Jones has started work.

She took her oath of office and held her first meeting with the chief constable of Hampshire Police Olivia Pinkney in Winchester yesterday.

The former leader of Portsmouth City Council said the meeting to outline her priorities as PCC had been 'positive'.

Donna Jones, said:

“I feel incredibly humbled by the support I have been shown across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; I am proud to be the first woman holding the role in this area, and with a track record of delivering in public office I will make sure I deliver on the pledges I made during my campaign and those I have undertaken today in signing the Oath.”

After taking the Oath, the Commissioner walked through part of Winchester with the Chief Constable, Olivia Pinkney. The Chief Constable and Commissioner then had their first meeting.

Reflecting on the meeting, Donna Jones said: “Over the last year I have been listening to our communities and today, as my first action, I put the key concerns that were raised with me to the Chief Constable.

“People have told me that they don’t feel as safe as they used to, that they want to see more police officers and that when they do report crime they would like feedback. I went through my proposals to tackle these with the Chief Constable. I outlined that my priorities will be recruiting 600 more police officers, removing red tape and bureaucracy so officers can spend more time on patrol and a review of 101 and 999 service so when people do report a crime they get feedback.

“It was a positive first meeting and I look forward to working with the Chief Constable and her team to bring crime down and make Hampshire and the Isle of Wight some of safest places to live.

Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said:

“On behalf of all of my officers, staff, and volunteers, I’d like to welcome Donna Jones as the new Police and Crime Commissioner who will continue to give a voice to the public to ensure the safety of our communities and effective criminal justice in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. I look forward to working with the new Commissioner on topics that she has already highlighted during her campaign, such as the recruitment of new officers into the Constabulary, reducing violence, and continuing to support young people so that they do not become involved in the criminal justice system at an early age”.

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