Donna Jones is to remain in post as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & Isle of Wight after securing a strong majority win in this year’s election. Securing a total of 175,953 votes across the region, Jones finished ahead of Becky Williams (Lab) who secured 106,141 votes, Prad Bains (Lib Dem) in 3rd with 92,843 votes and Don Jerrard (Ind) in 4th with 40,691 votes. On the Island, Donna secured 8,997 votes – 49.49% of the total votes cast – ahead of Labour’s Becky Williams with 4,973 votes. The Justice and Anti-Corruption Party’s Don Jerrard finished ahead of Prad Bains with 2,051 votes to Prad’s 2,014. As previously reported by Island Echo, the local turnout here on the Island was just 16.4% with a total of 18,035 votes cast. 144 ballot papers were rejected – 20 voted for more than 1 candidate, 2 contained writing which could identify the voter, 24 were unmarked and 98 were voided for uncertainty. The Island turnout was the lowest in the region. The overall turnout across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was 28.38% with 415,628 votes cast. 6,337 ballot papers were rejected. Donna Jones was elected back in 2021 following a victory against Tony Bunday (Labour Co-op), Richard Murphy (Lib Democrats) and Steve James-Bailey (Independent) in which she came out on top in every counting area, and was just the 3rd person elected in the role following its inception back in 2012. Speaking after her win today, Donna said:
“I’m extremely honoured to be re-elected. The hard work continues tomorrow. I am determined to recruit more police officers, to make sure that everyone who reports a crime gets feedback and that there is a comprehensive crackdown on shoplifting. I will carry on making sure that communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are safer by making increased police visibility a priority, by taking more knives off the streets and providing focused support for victims. “I will continue to listen to residents, families, businesses and neighbourhoods throughout the two counties, and I will act quickly and efficiently working with the Chief Constable because the public rightly deserve robust policing and swift justice. These are huge responsibilities and I’m looking forward to getting back to delivering for the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”
Donna’s pledges for her 2nd term as PCC include 75 more police officers over the next 12 months, opening more police stations and front counters, cracking down on shoplifting and retail crime, delivering a Rural Crime Taskforce, investing in making our roads safer, reducing serious violence, and ensuring people reporting a crime get feedback. She will take the oath of office on Wednesday (8th May). Fellow Conservative, Bob Seely MP, has said:
“Well done Donna Jones. “I am delighted Donna won, she’s an excellent Police and Crime Commissioner, and working with her we have delivered a better deal on policing on the Island, with more police and safer streets. “Donna got 50 percent of the vote. It was a strong result, albeit on a modest turnout.” “Working with her, we have delivered 30 extra police officers, dedicated road traffic officers, more police stations and more visible policing.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JHjltn2elc Video: Jason Lewis/Local Democracy Reporter Scheme
