Bobbies back on the beat for Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Town and villages are to get dedicated officers from April
Local bobbies are making a comeback on the streets of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
From April 2024, towns and villages will have named, dedicated officers.
They're part of the 600 recruited over the past 18 months.
Donna Jones - Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and Isle of Wight - said: "I have spent the last 18 months as your police commissioner listening, learning and talking to thousands of people. I was convinced very quickly that bringing back local named police officers to serve you and your communities was the right thing to do.
"Since then, I’ve been working on finding the money to pay for more police officers and been successful in doing that; by the end of next month 600 extra police officers will have already been recruited - 100 more than our national target, and 2 weeks ago I announced another 50 new officers on top of that to be recruited over the next year. Next year I hope to do the same.
"Now is the time to again make clear I am committed to giving the public what they want & need; a stronger relationship with their local police force and to feel safe in their communities.”
"Both PCSO’s and police officers work across local neighbourhood policing teams. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary already have a number of dedicated individuals in communities and ensuring the public know who they are & how to get hold of them will a priority."
The Police Commissioner has worked on these plans with the new Chief Constable Scott Chilton who takes up his new role on the 23rd February 2023.