Fifty more police officers could be on the streets of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight after a larger council tax increase was agreed.
The county’s Police and Crime Panel met last week to decide whether to support Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones in her bid to hire more officers.
News OnTheWight asked how many would be based on the Island, and were told “that decision will sit with the new chief constable when he arrives”.
Rise in the police precept
The panel approved to increase the amount of money people pay through their council tax towards policing – also known as a police precept.
Previously residents paid £236.46 towards the police precept per annum for a band D home, under the approved proposal residents would pay an additional £15.
Increased wages
Speaking to the panel, PCC Donna Jones said 8,409 people supported the consultation that was held to see whether residents agree to increase the budget for the police.
She added that the extra £15 will allow an increase in wages which officers haven’t seen in four years.
50 additional officers
The additional funding will allow the constabulary to invest in additional staff and in IT systems to tackle cybercrime.
The PCC finished by stating that the 50 additional officers will be hired within 12 months.
Pinkney: This needs to be a precedent for following years
Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney added,
“We are not immune to inflation, everything that we need to buy is much more expensive from boots to walkie-talkies or vests.
“Those 50 will provide additional support, they all will go to operational and visible roles however, the recruitment doesn’t stop here.
“This needs to be a precedent for following years.”
An £12.3m from council tax
The new levy will provide the force with an extra £12.3m from council tax, additionally, central government is likely to grant £4.2m on top.
The PCC set out an ambition in 2021 to have 600 additional police officers working for the constabulary by the end of 2023.
If the 50 officers are hired within 12 months the force would have exceeded its target.
Article edit
12.15pm 31st Jan 2023 – Comment about IW officers added
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
Image: westmidlandspolice under CC BY 2.0
