Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones and Chief Constable Scott Chilton have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling crime in rural areas across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight with further investment in technology which will help pursue organised crime gangs. Both leaders agree that investing in specialist resources and technology to make rural Hampshire and the Isle of Wight impenetrable to criminals is a priority for policing. The Commissioner has already provided £25,000 for re-deployable Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras as part of her Emerging Needs Fund, which have now been installed. These are being deployed to hotspot areas identified by intelligence analysis and can be moved quickly and efficiently as the intelligence picture changes to identify and deal with those travelling to the area to commit crime. Deployment of these cameras was a clear priority for people, as was highlighted by communities as a necessity in the force’s Rural Crime Survey. With intelligence gathering being a critical part of the success, the Commissioner has also agreed a £1million investment in intelligence gathering capabilities to identify prolific offenders, announced in her 2024-25 budget. The rural landscape and the types of offending taking place within these communities means drones are also a vital information and intelligence gathering tool to scan large areas of land, checking for stolen property and suspicious vehicles. Aerial oversight allows the large open areas of land to be monitored and offenders tracked to try and obtain a successful resolution. The Constabulary’s Country Watch teams, Priority Crime teams, and Roads Policing Units are now regularly combining their efforts to identify those entering Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to commit serious crimes with targeted operations on rural road networks. PCC Donna Jones says:
“Agricultural machinery and vehicle theft, hare coursing and poaching, theft of livestock, and fly-tipping are just some of the crimes found to have devastating consequences for those who reside, and own businesses, in the countryside. “These crimes have to stop. Tackling rural crime is one of my top priorities in my Police and Crime Plan, I have invested heavily in intelligence gathering capabilities so the force can identify and take action against the career criminals who intentionally victimise rural communities, seeing them as an easy option. “The increase in 650 extra officers over the last three years, as well as my announcement in January of a further 75 officers for 2024-25 means rural communities will see police more than ever before.”
Chief Constable Scott Chilton of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, adds:
“As a force, with large rural areas combined with busy urban towns and cities, it’s crucial that we are using all of the tools at our disposal to make our communities a hostile environment for criminals. Alongside putting more officers and staff in the places where they can be most effective, we also need to have the right information and technology to enable us to detect, deter and disrupt criminality. “I have already made changes to the structure of the force so that our neighbourhood teams are targeting the criminals causing the greatest impact, alongside their response colleagues and our dedicated local criminal investigators. “This investment to strengthen our intelligence teams, and the increase in ANPR, will provide further support in preventing and reducing rural crime, shutting down county drug lines, tracing vulnerable missing people and ultimately protecting and reassuring our communities. It also re-emphasises my commitment and determination to take the fight to criminals in our communities here in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”
Maybe they could start with the IW Hunt who have repeatedly hunted foxes and hares, intimated members of the public, videos of multiple instances of traffic offences, cruelty to animals, ( largely their own horses and hounds ) and harassing children and women who legally observe the hunt, by going to their property and threatening them and their families.
Yes, very good point. Will they? No…it’s yet another sickening Tory club.
Seems like everything is a priority for them at the moment. There wouldn’t happen to be a PCC election coming up at any point soon would there?
Exactly the PCC and Pop Up Bob are jockeying for any re selection trick they can try to fool us with .. beware of false promises.
There must be an election for the Police and Crime Commissioner coming soon.
She’s popping up more than our MP
Just had a chuckle today seeing the “police station in Cowes”,you have to time the crime! and we are expected to vote for these retards next month!
I have filed mine already in the Bin.
Won’t be wasting my time, they don’t serve me.
No Law and Order on the Island.
Nothing gets done about Speeding, parking on Pavements,
parking on Double Yellow lines etc
Another Tory getting their face everywhere. There must a push going on.
Personally I won’t be voting for no one, Election year or not!
So your double negative implies that you will be voting for someone. I wonder who it could be?
If you “won’t be voting for no one”, you will be voting for someone. Avoid the double negative.
Start by stopping Motorists speeding in rural villages.
Blah Blah Blah Blah …. Then nothing changes .same old diatribe ..
We know who ate all the pies for sure. I am not voting for anything, it is all a total waste of my time. Tory hogwash, and a lying PCC. The islands gets little or no help, hence HAMPSHIRE and Isle of Wight, most goes to Hampshire.
doughnut kebab has some front…
And how many times a year do they visit the island?? Two days a year is not enough. Needs a permanent unit. But if the Tories did they how could they afford to give billions every year to the oil industry. And what does the oil industry do with that money? Make us ever more dependant on the energy from other countries whilst giving vast amounts of money to their share holders, most of whom live over seas. The UK needs energy independence and security. Can’t do that whilst the current group of criminals are in power.
You piggy has not got me yet
Look at those gimps…
Can we start with something that does not cost extra? We have a Police station in Cowes high Street and yet nothing is still being done to stop cycling in the pedestrian precinct where the station is located!
There is NO Law and order on this Lawless Island
She should Crack Down on her Diet and free up the NHS!!
SAY CHEESE or should we say smile if you’re on more than £100,000 a year
What went wrong in BRIGHSTONE then!
Looks like a fancy dress Parade, how times have changed
over the years.