HAMPSHIRE police have received funding for 50 extra police officers to join the force to help improve police visibility. 

Hampshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones has announced that she will provide the funding after gaining support from the Police and Crime Panel for her upcoming budget.

The commissioner’s number one priority since being elected and becoming commissioner in May 2021 has been to increase police officer numbers.

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She said: “The force pledged to recruit an additional 498 officers as part of the Government’s National Police Uplift Programme but I wanted to go further which is why I promised another 102 on top of that, bringing the total to 600 by the end of March 2023.

“With this year’s budget, I am able to increase the number again bringing the total additional officers for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary to 650 by March 2024.

“I want to be clear and reassure people this increase is not filling vacancies left by those who have retired or left. This is a net increase."

She added that to date the force has recruited more than 550 additional officers, which means it is on track to have recruited 600 by March this year.

The commissioner’s proposal to improve police visibility with the extra funds followed extensive consultation with local residents.

Receiving more than 8,400 responses from the public, the majority of people told the commissioner ‘improving police visibility’ was their top priority.

Listening to these concerns, the commissioner proposed an increase in the police precept of the council tax by £1.25 per month or £15 per year, based on Band D properties, which has been supported by the Police and Crime Panel.

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This is an increase of 6.34 per cent which is below the rate of inflation, and it will raise an additional £12.29 million for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in 2023/24.

Responding to the public’s call for more police visibility, she said: “This budget will allow for continued investment in your police force, in the issues that matter to you outlined in my Police and Crime Plan ‘More Police, Safer Streets’ and in terms of recruitment programmes, it will ensure Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is one of the country’s best-performing forces."