Message from Donna Jones - Police and Crime Commissioner, Hampshire and Isle of Wight

It's that time of year again when I set the police budget for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. Today I have launched my annual consultation on council tax contributions to policing. The survey is online and will run from 31 Oct to 4 Dec. This survey is to gather your views on whether I should increase the level of council tax which you pay in support of policing, to ensure continued investment in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. I know this is a very difficult time financially for the country, and potentially for you as an individual, and I am conscious that any rise in your council tax to support policing will come at the same time as other costs are also increasing. However, it is also a difficult time for funding your police force; police are not immune to the cost of living crisis and therefore the 2023/24 budget is being set against the backdrop of a challenging economic environment with general inflation, pay costs, utilities and fuel costs all rising. However, I know that any increase in the amount you pay must be considered carefully. I also hear very loudly that you want to see more officers in your communities. That’s why it’s so important that you complete this short survey and have your say on continued investment. With yours and the government’s support, I am on track to have recruited 600 more police officers in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight by March 2023, hitting a 25% increase in police officers responding to emergencies and patrolling the beat. Through this, I am making your police force even more local, visible and accessible. More police means more deployments, more crimes solved, and safer streets.

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