Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has financed a unique new police RHIB for the Constabulary’s Marine Support Unit. The new high-speed boat, named ‘Defender’, offers significantly advanced protection and tactical capability, which means the force can deal with threats at sea, even in severe weather conditions. It is fully equipped for prolonged sea searches and allows officers to board vessels of all sizes. The enhanced capability of ‘Defender’ gives officers the ability to patrol and deploy across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s 287 miles of coastline. ‘Defender’ is crewed by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Marine Support Unit. The team also provides maritime policing services to all of the inland waterways of the Thames Valley force area. The new vessel can be requested by neighbouring forces including Kent, Sussex, Dorset and Devon and Cornwall and to support national maritime incidents or events further afield. It comfortably hosts specialist police teams including armed officers, police dogs, negotiators and public order officers, whilst maintaining excellent high speed capability. Defender has joined the Marine Unit’s fleet of 2 other RIBS, ‘Protector’ and ‘Pursuer’ to complete the force’s ultimate crime-fighting sea fleet. 
PCC Donna Jones said:
“The introduction of the new RHIB, Defender, marks a significant advancement in our maritime policing capabilities. “The Solent is one of the busiest commercial shipping areas in Europe and is renowned for recreational sailing and boating, with strong maritime communities. By investing in this state-of-the-art vessel, I am ensuring that officers are equipped with the best tools to protect the Hampshire and Isle of Wight coastline and beyond. “Defender not only enhances the Constabulary’s ability to respond to incidents quickly and effectively but also reinforces my commitment as your Commissioner to maintain safety and security on our waters in this unique region of the UK.”
Chief Constable Scott Chilton said:
“The addition of the Defender to our fleet is a game-changer for the Marine Support Unit. This high-speed boat is a testament to our dedication to safeguarding our coastal and inland waterways. “The Solent is a complex maritime environment to police. Its narrow channels, tides and weather conditions can complicate enforcement efforts but with Defender’s advanced features and increased capacity, this means we can address threats at sea with unparalleled efficiency and precision. “This new capability is allowing us to better serve our communities, take the fight to organised crime and support neighbouring forces when needed, ensuring we are prepared for any maritime challenge.”
Perhaps they can lease to the Ferry company’s it may benefit us in that way ! Or maybe replace it with 2 Bobbies on the beat !!!
Wow, not even the police can rely on the ferries.
Just read a great article on the Daily Express website.
D.J urges Starmer to be honest about causes of
Civil unrest.
Here Here Donna
The Government need to get to the root of the problem.
The country is going back to the nasty Poll Tax Riot Days, that ended
Thatcher’s reign, will these riots end Starmers reign.
She is talking about mass, uncontrolled immigration. A) That is not government policy so what is she on about and B) how come she was silent while successive Tory Home Secretaries failed to process assylum claims and thereby return those whose claims failed? She should get on with her job and stop dabbling in Westminster politics, not least because she is punching well above her weight. The unrest has one very clear cause – it is being stirred up by right wing rabble-rousers like Farage, Anderson, and Braverman.
If only it were used to destroy illegal craft entering the English Channel.
Perhaps then the only people rioting would be the usual ones who use such excuses to get new trainers and electrical equipment,
As it is now, many normally placid people have had enough.
1 I’m 30 people in the UK now weren’t born here. So NORMAL people not racist folk see why too few homes, docs, dentists and streets full of violence and criminals and feel the need to do something even like the illegals it means breaking the law
The Island is a safe place at present, just wait until
Labour start moving more persons to the island.
Lol
As long as she doesn’t use it to enable even more illegals to come in in the way the laughable Border Farce do.
it goes with the bouncy castle and trampolines at least a million
The article reads as though PCC Donna Jones paid for this vessel herself. And nowhere does she cohesively explain which particular “challenges” this new RHIB is intended to protect us against.
PCC Donna Jones “has financed a unique new police RHIB”. That’s what I call generous, putting her hand in her own pocket to support the force. Well done Donna!
Now she just needs to put her hand in her pocket again and see if they gave her enough change to buy a new dress to replace the blue one.
Can she also put her hand in her pocket for supplying us with proper police stations unlike the farce at Cowes which is only open 3 hours a week?
I like the fact the she has financed it (and not us). That’s very benevolent of her, though I’m surprised she has time for this, as she seems more concerned about courting the national press with her inflammatory statements.
I notice also that she (DJ) has told the dimwit politicians what the country is really angry about.
“support neighbouring forces” I hope those neighbours are contributing to the cost.
I’ve just read an article on ITV News which is headlined: Calls for Hampshire police commissioner Donna Jones to quit over ‘divisive’ riot comments.
The article said, “Hampshire’s police and crime commissioner has faced calls to resign after she said those involved in recent protests were motivated by “the need to uphold British values.” She also stated “The government “must acknowledge what is causing this civil unrest in order to prevent it”.
The Winchester Member of Parliament, Danny Chambers, wrote on Twitter/X that he was “deeply concerned” by Donna Jones’ statement and that she was “totally unsuitable to hold this position of responsibility”.
Even within their own political party they cannot agree.