Concerns over a lack of policing in Island villages and towns have been addressed by Hampshire Constabulary.
At meetings of Northwood Parish and Cowes Town councils earlier this month, questions over the Island’s policing system and responsiveness were raised. Councillors wondered whether officers were ‘overburdened with red tape and under-resourced’.
Speaking at the Cowes meeting, Isle of Wight Councillor John Nicholson said residents were giving up reporting issues, especially online, because of a lack of response. He said he was not in any way criticising the Police, as they work very hard and are very put upon, but as taxpayers, with a rising police precept, it was not good enough.
Cllr Nicholson said filling out the online form to report incidents had taken him 30 minutes and had he not been doing it on behalf of the community, he would have given up.
Member of Cowes Town Council and Isle of Wight Council leader, Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, said the concern would be if no one reported the incidents then the Island would be considered a safe place and resources would go elsewhere. She acknowledged it was frustrating but urged Islanders to persevere with 101 and the online form.
Speaking at the meeting, a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) said it was frustrating for officers as well but they were told 101 was better now.
Responding to comments, a Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said its officers are dedicated to making the Isle of Wight a safe place to live and work. Officers, they said, work hard to provide the best possible service to victims and witnesses and to prevent and detect crime.
They do, however, need people to report information, even if it is not an emergency, as it provides a better picture of what is happening on the Island so it could allocate resources accordingly.
Online reports are assessed soon after they are received and the average time processing the enquiries varies, depending on the level of priority, time of day and demand. If they are urgent, however, they are actioned immediately.
“concerns over a lack of policing have been addressed by Hampshire Constabulary” – suggests that something has actually been done about it when we all know that nothing whatsoever is being done about it and never will be. We just pay more and more each year for less and less.
Agree with paul , but it seems the drug and drink drivers are taking a,out of police time and money , that’s without anti social behaviour drug dealers etc etc .
Many ,Many times i have seen reports of excessive amounts of police time taken up by paperwork, WHY.
Cant they employ civilian office staff to do this time consuming task, to help officers to get back to what they should be doing. With modern technology, why cant the reportable incident be recorded. and that used by the office staff to comply the report ? Dont they wear Camerer’s to incidents ?
Probably this idea is full of holes, but aint the present system? What did they do in the old days?
“Councillors wondered whether officers were ‘overburdened with red tape and under-resourced’.
Seriously? I mean really seriously?? If Councillors are still “wondering” abut this then it is no surprise at the state of policing over here. Are they so far out of touch (or stupid more like) that they really have no idea whats going on.
Maybe if the police didn’t respond to even the most minor of incidents ‘mob handed’ they could use their resources more effectively
Absolutely agree, a single vehicle accident and you get ten police vehicles, five fire engines and three ambulances! Maybe all the extras are there to hold each others hands in case the sight of a bruise gives them all stress and post.
Such as?
Tackling crime.
twitter posts misgendering someone
The on-line reporting system is far too cumbersome, and, has anyone tried to use the 101 service?
Last time I tried it took AGES for anyone to actually answer, and then it was quite clear that there was a total lack of interest in what was being reported. Can’t even say they paid ‘lip service’, just brushed off!
Not to be rude to the officer but it would appear that Hampshire Constabulary did not take the meeting vary seriously if all they sent was a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)
When you report an incident online it is processed by a department of civilians at a call handling centre.
Their knowledge of the law is poor at best.
I reported an uninsured, untaxed vehicle with no MOT on a highway.
I was advised this is not a police matter.
I phoned to advise them as these offences are not a police matter I would cancel my tax and insurance.
Maybe, they just might not like snitches.