Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, has launched a major crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour in our town centres this summer.
Over the next 3 months, police and partners will be using powers, including Fixed Penalty Notices and Community Protection Orders, to tackle issues in 28 Hotspot locations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight which have been identified by police data.
Extra foot patrols will also be carried out with officers, PCSOs and Special Constables working closely with Community Safety partners, businesses and community groups to help reduce crime.
PCC Donna Jones said:
“As the evenings get lighter and schools break-up, the demand on policing services increases. Crime reports show anti-social behaviour, retail and street crime can escalate which takes up valuable resources.
“I’m committed to taking back our town centres this summer with a positive police presence and targeted action against crime.
“I want our town and city centres to be vibrant, welcoming places where businesses thrive and people feel safe to come and shop, socialise and live.
“That’s why I continue to invest in specialist ASB wardens, City Centre Policing Units and Local Bobbies.
Article continues below this advertisement “Their vital work has already contributed to a 6.3% reduction in ASB-related crime over the past year. However, more can always be done.
“Earlier this month, I launched UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) as part of our collaborative work with businesses in town and city centres.
“The cutting edge system provides retailers with a powerful tool to help them report crime quickly and help police track offenders, share intelligence and put prolific thieves before a court.
“Although this is a summer campaign, I am working all year round to make sure ASB, street crime and violence is reduced in our communities.
“This is why I’ve given local authorities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight £620,000 over the next financial year for more Hotspot patrols and to support wider measures to prevent ASB.
“Working with our Community Safety Partnerships, I also fund a number of projects which offer young people involved in anti-social behaviour meaningful activities to help reduce crime.
“I’ve seen first-hand how organisations and community groups have provided life-changing interventions which have transformed people’s lives.
“Together we can create safer, thriving town centres and make a lasting difference to our communities.”
The Safer Streets Summer Initiative will run from the 30th June to 30th September. Data will be collected monthly and fed back to the Home Office.
You can find out more about the Police Commissioner’s grant funding at https://www.hampshire-pcc.gov.uk/funding/current-funding-2.
Sack Donna and get more bobbies on the beat. That’ll help make the streets safer this summer.
I agree, particularly as those in these roles can overturn a decision made by a Chief Inspector.
What many are not aware of is the massive volume of staff these PCCs employ. Redundancy is not pleasant for anyone, yet I’d rather taxpayers’ money be spent on bobbies on the beat than on people who send emails to each other with no impact on tackling or preventing crime.
Oh, while these roles are removed, how about the role of Mayor, particularly those who also appear to be able to overturn what a Chief Inspector says?
It’s not just town centres.
Very true, they forget about other locations.
That’s why the Bobby on the beat is a great idea.
Sandown is an Hot Spot.
Drunks sitting along the esplanade and high street.
Speeding up Beachfield Road and Numpty’s parking
on Double Yellow Lines outside the pedestrianised area
outside sandown pier and STOP the Numpty’s
parking on the pavement opposite the pier
*By parking on the pavement they are avoiding
paying parking charges, thus making it dangerous
for pedestrians to walk safely onto the pier*
The island is slack when it comes to safety for
pedestrians!
WHY DON’T WE ALL PARK ON THE PAVEMENTS IN
SANDOWN TO AVOID PAYING PARKING CHARGES!!
Sort it out F.F.S
I have already contact Sandown Town Council
They are as much use as a split French letter!
Well I find it incredible that for the past 2 days Southern Vectis route 8 is diverted and missing out stops “due to illegally parked cars”. So a service is disrupted, service users are inconvenienced and the law breaking drivers are left to get on with it. Unreal !!
Has anyone bothered to tell her that by the time schools break up, the evenings are getting darker, not lighter.
Her speaking lots of words to massage the facts is good though; 620k over 28 so-called ‘hotspots’ equates to 22k each. Enough for one community bobby only.
Nice one, Donna. When do you leave?
Surely the deployment of resources is a matter for the Chief Constable or whoever they delegate that to? Where is the money coming from for these additional people who will conduct these foot patrols? If the resource is being switched from elsewhere in the force, that is for the force to decide, not the PCC. If the PCC has another pot of money available, why is that not being provided to the force so that they can use it most effectively. This looks very much like a PCC using taxpayers money to promote themselves and their political aims. If we are to have a Police and Crime Commissioner, they should not be party political.
Yep. That’s her in a nutshell.
Soon, my precious. If devolved, those powers will be transferred to the Mayor’s office who can spend the money how they see fit in each area.