Plans to change the name of Hampshire Constabulary to include the Isle of Wight have taken another step forward – and the new name could be in place by the Autumn.
The Minister of State for Crime and Policing, Kit Malthouse, has brought forward legislation to formally change the name of Hampshire Constabulary to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary.
The decision follows a consultation undertaken by local Police & Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, which showed 82% of those who responded were supportive of the name change.
The names of individual police force areas are set out in the Police Act 1996. This Act makes provisions for the Secretary of State to make regulations to amend these names, which are subject to the draft affirmative procedure. This means that they cannot be made into law unless approved by both Houses of Parliament.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones said:
“When I was elected last year, I made a pledge to the people of the Isle of Wight that, as your Police and Crime Commissioner, I would do everything I could to effect the legal change required to reflect the Isle of Wight as a county area in the name of the police force.
“I carried out a formal consultation which highlighted strong support for the name change. I have worked with the Home Secretary and the Policing Minister to ensure the support of the government.
“The new name will truly reflect the whole force area and will help Island residents feel a closer connection to their police force.”
Article continues below this advertisement
In a letter to Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely, Mr Malthouse wrote:
Should parliamentary consent be given, the name change is set to come into force in the Autumn. However, there will be minimal immediate costs with no rebranding exercise planned. The branding of police uniforms, cars and buildings will be phased in over time as equipment is changed and updated, thus keeping costs to a minimum.
Reacting to the news, Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has said:
“I am very pleased to see this proposed name change now coming before Parliament for formal agreement, and I would like to thank the Minister for bringing it forward.
“It is important to Islanders that we get this recognition and that our voices are heard. I thank Donna for listening to all those who called for this change and for driving this forward.”
The new name will truly reflect the whole force area and will help Island residents feel a closer connection to their police force.”
Ha Ha Ha.. really – No Donna … they way islanders will feel a closer connection to their police force is by seeing them patrolling the streets, seeing shoplifters arrested, charged and jailed, as well as seeing the police deal with the drunks, layabouts, s cumbags, junkies and other anti social deadbeats that hang around the towns moved on or locked up.
Another waste of money (and time).
She carried out a formal consultation with who exactly? I do not know anyone on the island who were consulted about this total waste of time and money. No wonder our precept keeps going up, for nonsense like this! The woman is as big a liar as Boris Johnson with just as much “spin” that she always uses. And she is just as useless too.
Wow, fantastic, at last!
That’s really going to help tackle crime and hopefully (but not really) won’t cost tax payers too much for some new badges and car stickers instead of better pay and better policing.
Criminals will be thinking twice now when they see the new name just you wait and see.
Changing the name does nothing unless we get more police.
Getting more police does nothing unless the CPS actually deny bail to people too. Like that guy who took that girl in fort victoria. He was out and about 48 hours later I think. He was 100% released back into the community after being caught for it.
What a load of nonsense, how much is that costing. Just do it.
What a waste of time effort and money spent to get officers out on the street answer your 101 phone and stop just giving crime reference numbers and asking the public to sort out it’s selves. Since the move years back from IOW we have seen more crime,less police,harder to make contact etc etc. You phone them now and lucky if they know anything about the Island
I’ve got an idea – why don’t we just call then the Police?
They won’t turn up
Protect yourself! How about that for a new name!
or jobsworth
This isn’t news, it is basic common sense that if we are amalgamated with another district and pay for the privilege then our name should be shown on all correspondence, vehicles etc. It is standard procedure on the mainland so why are we treated so differently? That small piece of water between us and the mainland has a lot to answer for.