Senior leaders at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary have welcomed the Government’s new Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, highlighting the Force’s own significant strides in delivering more visible, responsive and community-led policing.
The Government has announced that 3,000 additional neighbourhood police officers and Police Community Support Officers will be in post within the next 12 months. Every neighbourhood in England and Wales will have dedicated teams spending their time on the beat.
Police patrols will also be guaranteed in town centres and hotspot areas during peak times such as Friday and Saturday nights. These measures are due to take effect from July.
Acting Chief Constable Sam de Reya of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary says the Government’s focus on improving local policing and reducing anti-social behaviour aligns with the mission already underway locally.
Acting CC Sam de Reya has said:
“We welcome the national focus on delivering exceptional and more trusted local policing, alongside reducing anti-social behaviour, as outlined in the latest announcement on the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.
“This has been at the heart of our mission over the past two years and, working with the Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, we have transformed the way we work to ensure we are tackling the issues that we know really matter to our communities.”
Donna Jones, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, has said:
“I have heard from countless people who want anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood to stop; I’ve heard from victims of crime who have been denied justice; I have heard from residents who have expected a better police response when they’ve called for help, and I’ve heard from people who just want to see a police officer on the beat.
“The Government has made this commitment because people want to feel safe in their communities. People want their police force to patrol their streets and focus on what works to drive down crime.”
A key part of the force’s approach is the Local Bobbies scheme, introduced in January 2024, which provides named, contactable officers for every beat area. These officers are embedded in their communities, identifying threats, addressing the root causes of crime, and offering a familiar point of contact.
This is supported by the Let’s Talk campaign, launched in March 2023. More than 30,000 local residents have completed online surveys, helping shape patrol strategies and direct resources to where they are most needed.
Specialist units including Neighbourhood Enforcement Teams and Area Crime Teams have also been established to support neighbourhood policing and target repeat offenders.
Efforts to reduce anti-social behaviour have included an increased use of Criminal Behaviour Orders and closure orders, supported by tactical advice from the force’s dedicated ASB team. Operation Crush, which tackles the illegal use of powered two-wheel vehicles such as e-scooters, has resulted in more than 100 vehicles being destroyed in its first year.
This work has contributed to a 7.8% reduction in anti-social behaviour across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in the last year.
Great idea, we need to see police walking the beat like they
did in the good old days.
They will see much more of what is going on and catch
more numpty’s.
My family moved to the Island twenty years ago. I go into Newport two or three times per week.
I have seen a police officer walking (in the Town centre) once.