The Government is bolstering police forces with extra officers and resources to cut crime and keep communities safe, with Hampshire Constabulary welcoming 220 new recruits.
Latest statistics show that an additional 6,620 officers have joined forces across England and Wales with things on track for 20,000 additional officers to be recruited over the next 3 years.
847 additional officers in the South East – of which 220 are allocated to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – are already helping to keep people safe by supporting the police response to the pandemic, who have stepped up their enforcement against those flouting rules to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Of the new recruits, many will already be out supporting the ongoing police response to the pandemic, helping to stop the spread of coronavirus by assisting with enforcement action against those flouting the rules.
The recruitment drive is at the centre of the Government’s promise to back the police with more resources and support to cut crime, and today the Home Secretary has also announced an additional £20 million to help crack down on ‘neighbourhood crimes’ like burglary, robbery, theft and vehicle crime.
This funding forms the second round of the Safer Streets fund, which launched in January last year. It will be open to both Police and Crime Commissioners and Local Authorities and go towards local-crime cutting interventions in residential areas.
The announcement will bring total investment in Safer Streets to £45million over 2 years, supporting even more areas that are disproportionately affected by neighbourhood crime with the tools to deliver tangible and sustainable impacts.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has said:
“I am delighted we have exceeded our own target to recruit 6,000 additional police officers by March 2021.
“Keeping our streets is my absolute priority and many of these new officers in the South East are already on our streets helping to fight the coronavirus pandemic, and for that they get my huge thanks.
“These new officers, on top of further funding to tackle crimes such as burglary, robbery and vehicle crime will ensure the police have the powers, tools and resources they need to cut crime and make you feel safer in your community.”
Over the last 10 years the Tories have cut police numbers by 21,000.
Priti Patel can be as delighted as she likes, but it doesnt change the fact that the tories are not increasing police numbers, they are just reversing a few of their previous cuts.
Ditto nurses.
Not clear who’s paying the ongoing salaries of these very welcome “new” (ie replaced) officers? £20M, £45M, or extra precept? And 220 of them are “already helping” – shouldn’t we have seen some on IW?
There will be no change, when I was in Neighbourhood Watch, when I lived in Gosport, at the AGM we were told by the Police an officer takes 18 months to train, in that time more will leave for one reason or another, so the so called 220 will be less. And 20,000 over 3 years, they will just plug gaps with no increase at all. If the government had said 200,000 over 3 years, now you are talking, but they haven’t.
If less of those who now are elevated ‘above’ blame were never allowed in such huge numbers then our Prisons could then be used to house what they were constructed for, to house our own lawbreakers, not the third worlds as well.
A breath of fresh air posting Lady Dun.
Added to the cost of the jailing of such, we also then have the massive cost to the already stretched NHS, who have to ‘pick up the pieces’ of their crimes
Looking like the poll tax, will soar yet again. To cover this, the sinking bridge and town councils profligate spending.
Poll Tax?
But how many for the Isle of Wight?
Will it be less than 20 or more?
Will it just cover those leaving?
Unless lockdowns are ended within the next few weeks, there is going to be massive civil disobedience. The police are likely to lose control, and I dare say a tragedy will occur.
No. There will not.
There is more of a chance of small, isolated incidents of minor disobedience than “massive civil disobedience”.
There are far more people who care about their collective responsibility than there are people who jump at the chance to promote the idea of significant unrest.
It won’t happen.
Any suggestion that it might is unfounded nonsense.
you are wrong their anne…there are plenty who will destroy everything given half a chance.
i work hard, abide by the law and pay my bills, however, unless this lockdown ends at some point and the government stop dictating to us all, then I will not hesitate to join in protests, even if it means wrecking things.
i do not care about collective responsibility – this is not a hippy commune
TOTAL IDIOT. You said you will Wreck things…..if you’re so frustrated, wreck your own home, smash that up….. Stay away from public places you d*ck.
People just dont understand, a lot of people are losing everything, things they have worked hard for a their life,only to watch it be destroyed by an over the top government reaction that has blow this virus out of all proportion! So I understand why people feel this way. And if protests happen I will be there, I’ve never broke the law in my life,but I will now if needed! Remember covid regulations are NOT law, so the fines mean nothing!
It likely will where ‘those who can no longer be blamed’ live en-masse, any and every excuse to replenish electrical goods, trainers, and designer clothing
Fortunately we have yet to be so blessed, but the masse building will sadly change all that, and the Island and its lovely people will be ruined, not for a while, but forever more.
Funny, 220 for Hampshire and Isle of Wight.. we might get two..